| 'In the Vaults Beneath': Archaeological Recording at St George's Church, Bloomsbury Contributor(s): Boyle, Angela (Author), Boston, Ceridwen (Author), Boyle, A. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0904220532 ISBN-13: 9780904220537 Publisher: Oxford Archaeological Unit OUR PRICE: $24.70 Product Type: Paperback Published: May 2009 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Archaeology - History | Europe - Great Britain - General |
| Dewey: 942.142 |
| LCCN: 2010292119 |
| Series: Oxford Archaeology Monograph |
| Physical Information: 0.6" H x 8.2" W x 11.5" (2.10 lbs) 234 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - British Isles |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Archaeological investigations, undertaken as part of a programme to restore St George's Church, Bloomsbury, to its original Hawksmoor splendour, involved the removal of 871 triple lead-lined coffins from within the crypt and monitoring works within the churchyard. The elaborate named coffins of upper middle class parishioners provided a valuable opportunity to greatly develop the new field of post-medieval coffin analysis, and to integrate historical, archaeological and osteological data in order to build a vivid picture of this population. Over 90% of coffins were named, which allowed a rare opportunity to blind test osteological methods on 72 skeletons, whilst analysis of documentary and osteological evidence has challenged some long-held beliefs in post-medieval burial archaeology. Disease patterns in the St George's assemblage were influenced by the longevity and affluence of this population, factors that also underlay the necessity for elaborate and expensive dental treatment, including very early examples of fillings, filing and dentures. |