The team of scientists representing the University of Cambridge, after the excavations carried out in the UK found injuries on the skeletons of medieval workers. Damage and fractures are more met among artisans, compared with other population layers, which confirms social inequality.
According to a study published in American Journal of Physical Anthropology, archaeological works were held in Cambridge in three different places: on the territory of the cemetery near the Charitable Hospital of John the Bogoslov, where the remains of the poor and incurable patients were buried; Augustinian monastery cemetery for rich inhabitants and representatives of the clergy; The cemetery belonging to the local church where workers were buried.
The identified 314 skeletons dated 10-14 centuries. At this time, Cambridge was a provincial city where artisans, merchants and workers lived. The use of X-ray analysis made it possible to find out that fractures had 44% of workers in contrast to 32% of the rich and 27% incurable patients and poor. According to scientists, people buried in a cemetery for workers, for a long time engaged in heavy manual activities from 12 years. In ordinary workers there was a higher risk of injury compared to monks or patients of hospitals, Jenna Dittmar, representing the Faculty of University Archeology.
Damage that were obtained as a result of physical violence were identified in 4% of the remains. So, after the study of the skeleton of an elderly woman from the parish cemetery, scientists discovered that she had received repeated fractures of jaws, ribs, vertebrae and feet during his lifetime. To death, these damage healed, which may say that injuries obtained during life are possible signs of domestic violence.
Cambridge specialists found the most serious damage from one of the monks - the femoral bones of the minister were broken, probably as a result of a crash with a cart. Such injuries are now found in those who suffered because of an accident. Dr. Dittmar concluded that serious injuries were characteristic of all representatives of the social spectrum.