Skeletal Report

Hereford County Hospital 2003 Individual Number 9543

Introduction
This report contains a brief skeletal analysis of individual 9543 from
the 2003 excavations at Hereford County Hospital in Herefordshire,
UK. Previous excavations on the site had identified underlying
archaeological features as St. Guthlacs Priory, a medieval
Benedictine priory dated to 1143-1539 AD (Hereford Council
Historical Environmental Record 2010). These more recent
excavations were prompted by an extension of the rehabilitation
block of the County Hospital, and the burials discovered are now
thought to be from a parish cemetery, most likely St. Peter due to
the amount of women and children buried there (Hereford Council
Historical Environmental Record 2010). According to the Hereford
Council Historical Environmental Record (2010), if the individuals
belonged to the monastic Benedictine priory, women and children
would not be included in the cemetery. A total of 41 individuals were
recovered during these excavations, and all broadly date to the
medieval period.

Preservation and Completeness

The skeletal preservation is in generally good condition with little in
the way of surface deterioration.
The skeleton is largely complete. Present are a majority of the skull;
the pelvis and sacrum; all of the vertebrae; both patellae; most of
the hands and feet; both scapulae; and a full compliment of long
bones. (Fig. 1). The ribs are very fragmented, the zygomatic bones
are absent, and not all of the phalanges are present.

Fig 1. Diagram showing

skeletal completeness

Sex Estimation
Sex estimation was based upon a variety of techniques focusing on
the skull and pelvis. These were based on the metric analysis and
morphological descriptions described in Bass (1995), Brothwell
(1981), and Phenice (in Buikstra and Ubelaker 1994).
The skull presents a fairly consistent series of female features. The
forehead slope is fairly vertical and supraorbital ridges are barely
present. The nuchal crest is unpronounced and the external occipital
protuberance is slight. The post-zygomatic arch is not present,
indicating the individual may be female.

Fig 3. Showing minimal occipital protuberance

Fig 2. Showing vertical forehead slope and subtle supraorbital ridges

The pelvis shows a clearly obtusely angled greater sciatic notch,

indicating the individual is a female. Similarly the ventral arc on the
pubic bone is present along with a subpubic concavity. Finally the
subpubic angle was very obtuse indicating that the individual was
female.

Measurement
(mm)
Clavicle max length
147.5
Scapular glenoid cavity width 26.5
Humerus head diameter
45
Radial head diameter
19.9
Femoral Head diameter
44.1
Femoral bicondylar width
79.5
Table 1.
The metric
was based

Fig 4.Showing obtuse angle of greater sciatic notch of right pelvic bone.

Metric Analysis

Sex
?M
?F
?
F
?F
M

analysis
on

measurements found in Bass (1995) and revealed a series of mostly

female traits. The bicondylar width, however, was an overtly male
outlier (see Table 1), measuring well over the male range. However
in light of both the cranial and pelvic morphology, it is fair to
determine that the individual was likely female.

Age Estimation
Individual 9543 was an adult at the time of death because of its
size, all its bones are fused, and the wisdom teeth are erupted.
Because of this, age estimation was based on dental attrition
(Brothwell 1981), morphological changes in the pubic symphysis
(Brooks and Suchey 1990), and changes in the auricular surface
morphology (Lovejoy et al. 1985).
Fig 5. Showing
mandible molar
wear.

The remaining
molars are well
worn with visible
cavities and
range between 25-45 using Brothwells (1981)
tentative classification of age based on molar
wear. The broad range in age was due to the
first molar falling within the 25-35 age range,
but the second molar showing wear closer to
the 36-45 age range (Fig. 5). Since it appears
that some teeth were lost during the
individuals life, tooth wear may not be a good
indicator of age range.
Both pubic symphyses are present in the
individual allowing for more accurate aging.
Using the casts of pubic symphyses based upon
the descriptions of Brooks and Suchey (1990)
for comparison, the individual most likely fits into Phase IV. This is
based on the symphysis showing a fine grain with remnants of the
old ridge and furrow system still being present (Brooks and Suchey
1990). Using the statistical data for females, this places the
individual in the 26-70 age bracket, with a mean age of 38.2 years.

Fig 7. Auricular surface of

left pelvic bone.
Fig 6. Pubic Symphysis
surface

Similar to the pubic symphysis, both auricular surfaces are present.

Using Lovejoy et al.s (1985) auricular surface aging method, the
individual fits within the 35-39 age range. The surfaces are coursely
granulated with some striae present (Fig. 7).
Combining these methods it appears most likely that the individual
was in the region of 25 to 39 years old at the time of death.

Metric Analysis
The stature of individual 9543 was calculated using Trotters (1970)
calculations to determine the living height of the individual. The left
femur and tibia were used to assess the height of the individual.
Both the femur and tibia were entirely intact when measured on the
osteometric board.
As a precaution, measurements were also taken of the right tibia
and femur, but as these were within 2mm of the left long bones, the
left were used. A complete left humerus, radius, and ulna were
present, but the femur and tibia calculations were used because the
legs contribute more to the height than the arm. In this instance,
because of the sex estimation, Trotters (1970) formula for females
was used.
Femur: 42.5 cm
Tibia: 35.9 cm
Femur + Tibia = 78.4 cm
Formula: 78.4 x 1.39 = 108.97cm +53.20 = 162.17 cm
Height Range: 162.17 3.55cm

5 2.4 (158.62 cm) 5 5 (165.73 cm)

Palaeopathological Analysis
Dental caries data for the entirety of the site was made available for
analysis. Both true prevalence rates (TPR) and crude prevalence
rates (CPR) were calculated for the total population, and then for
males and females. The data is presented in Table 2 below.
Table 2.
Total teeth
Total caries
TPR

511
50
10%

Total Population
Total Population with
Caries
CPR

24
16
67%

Total Males
Total Males w. Caries
CPR (Male)

10
6
60%

Total Females
Total Females w. Caries
CPR (Female)

14
10
71%

From the data we are able to make a series of conclusions. Females

tended to have an 11% higher prevalence of dental caries than
males in this sample. However, there were 40% more females than
males in the sample, which likely biased the data. As this is a
cemetery, and inherently a selected population, it is difficult to
gauge the extent of the representative nature of this sample (Wood
et al. 1992).

Discussion and conclusions

The individual covered within this report was most likely female
aged 25-39 years at the time of death. Average life expectancy for
the medieval period is challenging because records listing
chronological age rarely exist (Gilchrist 2012). Also, according to
Gilchrist (2012), women may have lived longer but had a greater
mortality rates due to the dangers of childbirth and caring for the
sick.
According to Trotters (1970) stature estimations, she may have
stood at 162.17 3.55 cm, or between 5 2.4 (158.62 cm) 5 5
(165.73 cm). This is relatively tall when compared to average
heights of females in the late medieval period who had an average
height of about 159 cm (Roberts 2009).

A true prevalence rate of 10% of dental caries for the site is very
much typical for English sites of the period, with the average being
11.1% (Brothwell 1985).
Excavation and analysis of the skeletal remains from Hereford can
aid in determining the development of the priory and the
surrounding areas, including the delineation of the parish cemetery.
A great advantage with skeletal analyses from different areas and
periods excavated from this site, or any site, is that differences in
the demographic profile or pathologies can be noted over time,
which may offer a greater insight into the past that material culture
cannot provide.

Bibliography
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Columbia, MO., Missouri Archaeological Society.
Brooks, S., & Suchey, J. M. 1990. Skeletal age determination
based on the os pubis: a comparison of the Acsdi-Nemeskri and
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Brothwell, D. R. 1985. Variation in early Irish populations; a brief
survey of the evidence. Ulster Journal of Archaeolgy , 48, 5-9.
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collection from human skeletal remains. Fayetteville, AR,
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http://htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/smrSearch/Monuments/Monument_Ite
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