Museum of London: research framework

for the destructive sampling of human

remains
Contents
Contextfortheresearchframework......................................................................................................2
Documentationspecifictohumanremains........................................................................................2
Definitions...........................................................................................................................................4
Aims........................................................................................................................................................4
Purpose...................................................................................................................................................4
ResearchPriorities..................................................................................................................................4
Prehistory(c.500,000BCto50AD)....................................................................................................4
Romanperiod(43to410AD).............................................................................................................5
Keysites..........................................................................................................................................5
Saxonperiod(410to1066AD)...........................................................................................................6
Keysites..........................................................................................................................................6
Medievalperiod(10661500AD)........................................................................................................6
Keysites..........................................................................................................................................7
PostMedievalperiod(15001850AD)...............................................................................................7
Keysites..........................................................................................................................................7
Summaryofcompletedandongoingresearchprojects.......................................................................8
Diagenesis...........................................................................................................................................8
Specificdiseases(e.g.BlackDeath,tuberculosis,osteoporosis,treponematosis).............................8
Dentalhealth.......................................................................................................................................8
Age/sexestimation.............................................................................................................................8
Subadultgrowth/development(skeletalanddental)........................................................................8
Diet......................................................................................................................................................8
BreastfeedingandWeaning................................................................................................................8
Populationmobilityand......................................................................................................................8
Pastcatastrophicevents(e.g.plague,famine)...................................................................................8
Radiocarbondating(C14)...................................................................................................................8
Bibliography............................................................................................................................................9

Context for the research framework

The research framework for the destructive sampling of human remains is set within the wider
context of two existing documents. The first, A research framework for London archaeology
(Museum of London, 2002) and second, A strategy for researching the historic environment of
Greater London (Rowsome et al., 2011). It also relates to other professional documentation
concerningthecare,treatmentandsamplingofhumanremainsinmuseumsandotherinstitutions
(Department for Culture Media and Sport, 2005, Advisory Panel on the Archaeology of Burials in
England,2013).The2002and2011publicationsmustbereadinconjunctionwiththisdocument,as
they were designed for those wishing to undertake research on the archaeology and history of
Londonanditsenvirons.

Individual cemetery reports published by the various commercial archaeology units working in
London will contain recommendations for future research. It is strongly recommended that these
are consulted, particularly with respect to the population excavated from St Mary Spital (SRP98)
(Connelletal.,2012).

The majority of human remains curated by the Museum of London (MoL) have been deposited at
theLondonArchaeologicalArchiveandResearchCentre(LAARC)inaccordancewiththeirprotocols
andstandards(MuseumofLondon,2009).TheremainderofthecollectionderivefromAntiquarian
findsandcollectionspreviouslyheldbytheGuildhallMuseumandLondonMuseum.Thesupporting
informationfortheseremainsisstoredontheMuseumsMimsydatabase.

Focusing on the human remains deposited at LAARC, they represent a portion of a larger site
archive, and should not be studied or interpreted without reference to this information. The
individualarchivecontainsalloftheextantexcavationandpostexcavationworkforeachsite,andis
supplementedbytheresultsofinternalandexternalresearchactivities.Asmanystableisotopeand
aDNAstudiesrelyontheuseoffaunaldata,theLAARCshouldbeapproachedinconjunctionwith
theCentreforHumanBioarchaeologytodiscussaccesstothismaterialforanyproposedwork.

ThemanagementandcurationofthehumanremainsheldbyMoLisundertakenbytheCentrefor
Human Bioarchaeology in accordance with the Museums human remains policy document
(MuseumofLondon,2006).ThemanagementoftheMuseumshumanremainsisoverseenbythe
Human Remains Committee, whose work is described in the Museums human remains policy
document (Museum of London, 2006). Its members are drawn from Directorate, Heads of
Department, Centre for Human Bioarchaeology, Conservation and Collection Care and, when
appropriate at the discretion of the Committee, the Museum of London Archaeologys Osteology
Team.

Documentationspecifictohumanremains
The Museums policy document (Museum of London, 2006) and the Application to undertake
destructive sampling form both contain information relevant to this research framework, and
shouldbereadinconsultationwiththisdocument.Asummaryofkeypointsisgivenbelow:

 IftheapplicanthaspreviouslycontravenedMoLrequirements

Ifpreviousstudieshavenotbeenpublished,oracopyoftheresultsandasummaryreport
havenotbeendepositedwiththeMuseum

Theproposalisnotconsideredclearornovelenough(seeMoLPolicyandthisframework)

Destructive testing willnot be permitted if there is reason to believe that the data sought
cannot bereliablyobtainedfromourcollections (e.g.the techniqueis notsufficientlywell
known to consistently produce satisfactory results), or the specimen is known to be
unsuitable for sampling. The Museum of London's collectionsshould not be first choice if
othercomparablematerialisavailable.

Destructive sampling will not normally be considered for neonatal remains or pathological
elements. Sampling from individuals with significant pathological conditions (e.g.
treponematosis),namedindividualsandthoseofgreatarchaeologicalsignificancewillrarely
bepermitted,andthenonlyiftheresearchproposalcanbeshowntoadequatelyjustifythe
useofthisspecificmaterial.Asageneralrule,onlyonetoothand/oronebonesamplein
totalwillbepermittedperskeleton.

Research designs should be drawn up in such as way as to make best use of any samples
taken,forexamplethetargetingofsamplestoallowmorethanonetypeofanalysisormore
thanoneprojecttobeservedbythesamesample.Whendrawingupfinalresearchdesigns
the applicant should consider costs they will incur from bench fees, photography, printing
andpostage/transport1ofmaterialforreturn.

Requestsmust state the type and amount of material needed (e.g. sternal rib end
sample,0.5g).Excessivedestructionmustbeavoided,anapplicantmaybeaskedtokeepthe
numberofpotentialsamplestoanabsoluteminimum,andmaybeinvitedtoconsidernon
invasivealternatives.

The researcher must alsoprovidethe CHB with thelocation and storage method of the
sample.Ifthematerialistobeanalysedinalaboratoryexternaltoaresearcher'saffiliated
institution,itscontactdetailsmustalsobeprovided.

The Museum of Londonreserves the right to request the return of any extant material,
andacopyofallinformationobtainedfromitssamples.

AllresultsmustbereportedinwritingtotheCentre,withthesample'ssitecodeandcontext
numberincludedinallcorrespondence.

AnyextantmaterialshouldalsobereturnedtotheCentreuponcompletionofthestudy.

Copies of research and/or publications based on MoLcollectionsmust be returned to the

Centre.

1
Note that human remains can only be returned to the Museum using a courier or in-person. It is not acceptable
to post any extant samples to the Centre for Human Bioarchaeology.

 Samples can onlybeincludedinagrantapplication ifpermissionhasbeengranted bythe

MuseumofLondon

Definitions
Inthisandassociateddocuments,thefollowingdefinitionsareused(MuseumofLondon,2002,56):

London:thehistoricurbancoreofWestminster,theCityandSouthwark,

ThecityofLondon:theurbancentreforLondonatanypointintime,

TheCityofLondon:themedievalandlaterCity,

London region: the geographical area of Greater London and its surroundings, the lower
ThamesValley,

GreaterLondon:thegeographicalareacoveredbythecurrent32Londonboroughsandthe
CityofLondon.

Aims
1. Toprovidearesearchframeworkspecificallyforthedestructivesamplingofhumanremains
inthecareoftheMuseumofLondonwhichcomplementsandisintegratedwiththeexisting
strategiesandframeworksforLondonandGreaterLondon,

2. To ensure that the human remains in the care of the Museum of London are managed to
securetheirintegrityandlongtermsurvival.

Purpose
1. ToprovidepotentialapplicationswithinformationabouttheMuseumofLondonsresearch
strategiesforitscollections,

2. To describe the strategies chosen by the Museum for using destructive sampling to
understandthehumanremainsinitscare,

3. To promote collaborative working and research between the Museum and external
partners.

ResearchPriorities

Prehistory(c.500,000BCto50AD)
The prehistoric human remains in the Museums collections include cremations dating from the
NeolithicandBronzeAges,anddisarticulatedcraniarecoveredfromtheRiverThames.

Establishingasoundchronologicalsequencefortheperiod(MuseumofLondon,2002,20),

 Dietary contributions and their relationship to huntergatherer subsistence strategies, and

theintroductionandintensificationofagriculture,

Diet throughout the life course: age and gender differences in dietary patterns and
contributions,

Populationmobilityandorigin,

Diseasespresentandtheirorigin(e.g.typeofmycobacteria).

Romanperiod(43to410AD)
TheRomancityofLondinium,wasthefirsturbancentretobeestablishedintheLondonregion.In
thisperiod,itbecameoneofthelargestsettlementsinBritanniaandestablisheditselfasthemajor
trading hub of the province. Recent archaeological research has shown that it had mercantile
origins,ratherthanmilitaryones(HillandRowsome,2011),andthediversearchaeologicalevidence
provides a wealth of information about the sociocultural and economic activities in the city
throughout the period. The Roman population of Londinium practiced both cremation and
inhumation burial practices, with the majority of the Museums holdings consisting of inhumed
humanremains.

ThelateIronAgeRomantransition:populationmovement,

MakeupoftheurbanpopulationovertimeinrelationtoLondiniumschangingcharacter,

How the population of Londinium compares to other settlements in Britannia and

elsewhereintheEmpire,

Culturalinteractionsandidentities:social/funerarystatusandpopulationdiversity,

Dietarypatternsandexploitedresources(marine/terrestrial/imports),

Diet throughout the life course: age and gender differences in dietary patterns and
contributions(i.e.breastfeedingandweaningpractices),

Diseasespresentandtheirorigin(e.g.typeofmycobacteria).

Keysites
ThecemeteriesofRomanLondonhavebeendividedintonorth,south,eastandwestbyHall(1996),
and differences are evident between them in terms of funerary treatment and social status. The
sites from the eastern cemetery have been synthesized and published by Barber and Bowsher
(2000),andthenortherncemeterygroupswillbesubjecttoforthcomingpublicationsbyMuseumof
Londonarchaeology.

Saxonperiod(410to1066AD)
This period is one of the most poorly understood of all in Londons history, particularly the early
phase.ItsawtheestablishmentofLundenwic,atradingcentrelocatedinConventGarden,butin
responsetoVikingraids,thecentremovedtoanareawithinthewalledRomancity.Theamountof
archaeologicalevidencefromthisperiodissmallerthantheprecedingandlaterperiods,butdoes
provide a rich insight into sociocultural and economic activities. The Museum has less than 50
individualsdatingtothisperiod,themajoritybeingderivedfromexcavationsintheCoventGarden
area(MuseumofLondon,2002,51).

Populationcontinuity,

EvidenceforcatastropheinthedevelopmentofLondon(i.e.war,pestilenceandfamine),

Saxonmigration:populationoriginanddietaryhabits,

Vikingmigration:populationoriginanddietaryhabits,

The life course, particularly of females and subadults their presence in the city, origin,
identityandstatus,anddietaryhabits,

TheinfluenceofChristianityondietarycontributions,

Diseasespresentandtheirorigin(e.g.typeofmycobacteria).

Keysites
ThemajorityofindividualshavebeenexcavatedfromtheCoventGardenarea(i.e.CGD95),although
somehavealsobeenrecoveredfromthecemeteryat8290ParkLane,Croydon(PLO99).

Medievalperiod(10661500AD)
Inthisperiod,Londonunderwentamassiveexpansionandestablisheditselfasthemostimportant
trading and political centre in Britain, drawing on a large hinterland to support its population and
needs.ItwasthelargestsettlementinBritain,attractingpeoplefromelsewhereinBritainbutalso
ContinentalEurope.

EvidencefortheNormanConquest,

Cultural interactions and identities over time: population diversity, ethnicity, burial
locationandfunerarytype,

Foodways over time: dietary patterns, exploited resources (marine/terrestrial/imports)

andtheinfluenceofChristiantraditions,

Diet throughout the life course: age and gender differences in dietary patterns and
contributions(i.e.breastfeedingandweaningpractices),

Impactofandresponsestofamine,epidemicdiseaseeventsandenvironmentalchange,

 Diseasespresent,theirorigin(e.g.typeofmycobacteria)andrelationshiptowidersocio
politicalevents,suchastheCrusades.

Keysites
EastSmithfield(MIN86):BlackDeathcatastrophicburials.

StMarySpital(SRP98):Augustianprioryandhospital(over5,000individualsrecordedon
WORD).Catastrophicandattritionalburials.

PostMedievalperiod(15001850AD)
During this period, London continued as the key political and economic centre of Britain and by
1801,thepopulationofGreaterLondonhadgrowntojustoveronemillion. Londonwasalsothe
heartofanEmpire,whichatcertaintimes,includedterritoriesinNorthAmerica,Africa,Indiaand
Australasia.

ThisperiodalsosawafundamentalchangeinburiallocationthroughouttheLondonregion.During
the 17th century, nonconformist burial grounds were established, such as Bunhill Fields Burial
Ground(i.e.GDA06)andbecauseofovercrowdinginparishcemeteries,thedeadposedaserious
healthrisktothepopulation.In1845,theNationalSocietyfortheAbolitionofBurialinTownswas
establishedandtheirworkledtothe1852BurialAct,whichforcedtheGeneralBoardofHealthto
establish cemeteries in suburban areas (Government of the United Kingdom, 1852), such as
HighgateCemeteryinnorthLondon.

Populationmobilityanddiversity,

Dietarydiversityinrelationtoethnicityandstatus,

Populationresponsestoindustrialisationandcolonialism,

Introductionofnewcommoditiesandfoodstuffs(i.e.,tobacco,coffeeandtea),

Diet throughout the life course: age and gender differences in dietary patterns and
contributions(i.e.breastfeedingandweaningpractices),

Diseasespresentandtheirorigin(e.g.typeofmycobacteria).

Keysites
The Museums collections include high and low status cemetery populations, such as Chelsea Old
Church (OCU00) and Red Cross Way (REW92). A number of nonconformist cemeteries will be
deposited at the LAARC in future years, increasing the social diversity of our collections (e.g.
Hendersonetal.,2013).

Summaryofcompletedandongoingresearchprojects

Diagenesis
CarterLane(PIC87),EastSmithfield(StMaryGraces)(MIN86),FenchurchStreet(FCC95),General
PostOffice(GPO75),HaydonStreet(HAY86),HooperStreet(HOO88),MansellStreet(MSL87,
MSL88)andNewLondonBridge(NLB91).

Specificdiseases(e.g.BlackDeath,tuberculosis,osteoporosis,treponematosis)
BermondseyAbbey(BA84),BillingsgateMarket(BIG82),Calvert'sBuildings(15SKS80),Courage
Brewery(COSE84),EastSmithfield(StMaryGraces)(MIN86),FarringdonStreet(FAO90),Great
DoverStreet(GDV96),GeneralPostOffice(GPO75),HooperStreet(HOO88),MansellStreet(MSL87,
MSL88),NewLondonBridge(NLB91),StMarySpital(SRP98),StThomasStreet(4STS82),RedCross
Way(REW92),WestSmithfield(WES89)and1Poultry(ONE94).

Dentalhealth
Broadgate(LSS85).

Age/sexestimation
ChelseaOldChurch(OCU00),FarringdonStreet(FAO90)andEastSmithfield(StMaryGraces)
(MIN86).

Subadultgrowth/development(skeletalanddental)
Broadgate(LSS85),StMarySpital(SRP98)andEastSmithfield(StMaryGraces)(MIN86).

Diet
AngloSaxonsites,RomanoBritishsites,GuildhallYard(GYE92),MertonPriory(MPY86,MPY77),East
Smithfield(StMaryGraces)(MIN86)andStMarySpital(SRP98).

BreastfeedingandWeaning
RomanoBritishsites;RedCrossWay(REW92)andChelseaOldChurch(OCU00).

Populationmobilityandorigin

AngloSaxonsites,RomanoBritishsites,StMarySpital(SRP98),ChelseaOldChurch(OCU00)
andEastSmithfield(MIN86).

Pastcatastrophicevents(e.g.plague,famine)
GeneralPostOffice(GPO75),EastSmithfield(StMaryGraces)(MIN86)andStMarySpital(SRP98).

Radiocarbondating(C14)
AngloSaxonsites,Calvert'sBuildings(15SKS80),CourageBrewery(COSE84),GreatDoverStreet
(GDV96),StMarySpital(SRP98),StThomasStreet(4STS82)andWestSmithfield(WES89).

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