The Black Death of 1348-1350 decimated 80% of England’s population, leaving an unprecedented amount of death and societal upheaval in its wake. For the lucky few who survived the deadly plague, life was never quite the same. But until recently, historians have been unable to gain insight into what life was like for these survivors – until a remarkable discovery shed light on their stories.
In 2017, archeologists uncovered a mass grave filled with the bones of over 500 residents of Rochester, England, who succumbed to the Black Death. While the findings were initially classified as unremarkable, further study of the remains revealed a wealth of information about the lives of the plague survivors – unveiling their daily struggles, their medical history, and more.
Analysis of the bones showed that the Black Death survivors ranged in age from 2-50 years old. CT scans of the bones revealed unique indicators of medical conditions – ranging from high salt levels due to malnutrition, to skeletal deformities consistent with rickets and other childhood maladies. This analysis enabled researchers to gain insight into the health of the survivors and how it may have been affected by the plague.
Further research revealed other forms of adversity they faced. For example, several of the bone biographies revealed signs of tuberculosis and pulmonary infections, as well as evidence of hard labor and physical activity. In addition, they had higher levels of mercury than previously thought possible – indicating their contact with certain substances, such as alchemical remedies, during that era.
Remarkably, the bone biographies also allowed researchers to trace the narrative of the plague itself, providing evidence of the severity of the disease and how it impacted the social circumstances of the survivors. For example, bones belonging to elderly residents demonstrated wear and tear consistent with manual labor, revealing that even before the Black Death, the elderly were often limited to hard labor due to their age.
The incredible discovery of these bone biographies sheds light on the previously hidden stories of the brave survivors of the Black Death. This analysis has enabled a deeper understanding of the struggles they faced following the devastating pandemic, and provides a unique window into the lives of people living in Medieval England.
