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Malin Holst

University of York, Archaeology, Lecturer

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I am a bioarchaeologist and director of York Ostoearchaeology Ltd (http://yorkosteoarchaeology.co.uk), specialising in the excavation and analysis of human remains.
I am also a lecturer at the Department of Archaeology at the University of York and teach undergraduates and post-graduates in ethics, skeletal excavation, osteology, palaeopathology and funerary archaeology (http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/arch/staff/Holst.htm).
Current commercial and research projects include several 8th century skeletal assemblages from different parts of England, a mass grave cemetery from 11th century Leicester, a Roman and Saxon cemetery from Yorkshire, as well as research on identity and migration in Roman York.
Phone: 01904 432900
Address: Department of Archaeology
PalaeoHub
University of York
Wentworth Way
Heslington
York YO10 5DD

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Papers by Malin Holst

An extensive archaeological dental calculus dataset spanning 5000 years for ancient human oral microbiome research

bioRxiv, 2024

Archaeological dental calculus can provide detailed insights into the ancient human oral microbio... more

Detection of chromosomal aneuploidy in ancient genomes

Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also p... more Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also provide detailed profiles of the lives of ancient individuals. In this study, we develop a generalised computational approach to detect aneuploidies (atypical autosomal and sex chromosome karyotypes) in the ancient genetic record and distinguish such karyotypes from contamination. We confirm that aneuploidies can be detected even in low-coverage genomes (~0.0001-fold), common in ancient DNA. We apply this method to ancient skeletal remains from Britain to document the first instance of mosaic Turner syndrome (45,X0/46,XX) in the ancient genetic record in an Iron Age individual sequenced to average 9-fold coverage, the earliest known incidence of an individual with a 47,XYY karyotype from the Early Medieval period, as well as individuals with Klinefelter (47,XXY) and Down syndrome (47,XY, + 21). Overall, our approach provides an accessible and automated framework allowing for the detection of individuals with aneuploidies, which extends previous binary approaches. This tool can facilitate the interpretation of burial context and living conditions, as well as elucidate past perceptions of biological sex and people with diverse biological traits.

Grim up North? Exploring the diet of urban populations in post-medieval Greater Manchester, England, using stable isotope analysis

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

Historical evidence suggests that social status played a major role in all aspects of society in ... more Historical evidence suggests that social status played a major role in all aspects of society in eighteenth–nineteenth century England. We present an insight into how socioeconomic status affected the dietary habits of two post-medieval urban populations from Greater Manchester, northwest England. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios were measured in humans from Cross Street Unitarian Chapel (middle class: n = 90) in Manchester city centre and Chapel Street, Hazel Grove (lower status with few middle-class individuals: n = 34). A large sample of 111 faunal remains from Cross Street (n = 37) and Norton Priory, Cheshire (n = 74), provide an animal baseline, dramatically expanding the post-medieval animal isotopic dataset for England. Sheep from Norton Priory show high δ15N isotope values indicative of saltmarsh grazing. Results for human populations revealed a mixed diet of plant and animal protein from C3 terrestrial environments with some potential contribution of ...

Oxbow Books, Dec 12, 2007

Technical report: biological remains from excavations at Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland (site code: 03E1295)

Small quantities of biological remains recovered from the processing of bulk sediment samples fro... more Small quantities of biological remains recovered from the processing of bulk sediment samples from deposits encountered during works in advance of the construction of the Tipperary Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, were submitted for analysis. The cremation burials dated to the late Bronze Age and were thought to be part of a significant ritual prehistoric landscape. Osteological analysis found that three of the burials contained adults, while the small quantity of bone in the fourth burial may represent a pyre deposit or accessory burial. All four burials were unurned, but two contained probable grave goods in the form of fossils and a pottery sherd. Palaeopathology was noted on bone fragments from two of the burials. The plant material consisted mainly of wood charcoal presumably from the cremation pyres. This small group of burials appears to have been reserved for adults and may represent a family plot.

Author response for "Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ <sup>13</sup> CO <sub>3</sub> <sup>2‐</sup> : investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption

Church Cottage, Wheldrake: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Archaeological evaluations were undertaken at the site of Church Cottage in Wheldrake during Nove... more Archaeological evaluations were undertaken at the site of Church Cottage in Wheldrake during November 2020 prior to a programme of internal and external alterations and the construction of an extension. A minimal photographic record of the late 18th century east facing elevation of the cottage was undertaken to preserve an image of the cottage prior to its 21st century extension. Ground preparation for the extension involved the displacement of a single gravestone belonging to the Beilby Family. This stone is to be replaced and repositioned within the churchyard. Ground excavations revealed the presence of eleven burials and one possible cremation at 0.75m below ground level or &gt;14.08m &lt;14.20m AOD. The burials were not excavated and were preserved in situ. The disarticulated human bone was retained and assessed. The minimum number of individuals represented by the bone assemblage numbered six, most being adult, with a small amount indicating younger adults and children, including one perinate. Some illness was noted in the bones, such as degeneration in joints, whereas dental assessment was suggestive of poor oral hygiene or protein rich diets and childhood stress (Ruiz Ventura and Holst, 2021).

Author response for "Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ <sup>13</sup> CO <sub>3</sub> <sup>2‐</sup> : investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption

Detection of chromosomal aneuploidy in ancient genomes

by Malin Holst, Kyriaki Anastasiadou, and Paola Ponce

Communications Biology, 2024

Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also p... more Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also provide detailed profiles of the lives of ancient individuals. In this study, we develop a generalised computational approach to detect aneuploidies (atypical autosomal and sex chromosome karyotypes) in the ancient genetic record and distinguish such karyotypes from contamination. We confirm that aneuploidies can be detected even in low-coverage genomes (~0.0001-fold), common in ancient DNA. We apply this method to ancient skeletal remains from Britain to document the first instance of mosaic Turner syndrome (45,X0/46,XX) in the ancient genetic record in an Iron Age individual sequenced to average 9-fold coverage, the earliest known incidence of an individual with a 47,XYY karyotype from the Early Medieval period, as well as individuals with Klinefelter (47,XXY) and Down syndrome (47,XY, + 21). Overall, our approach provides an accessible and automated framework allowing for the detection of individuals with aneuploidies, which extends previous binary approaches. This tool can facilitate the interpretation of burial context and living conditions, as well as elucidate past perceptions of biological sex and people with diverse biological traits.

North and South: Exploring isotopic analysis of bone carbonates and collagen to understand post‐medieval diets in London and northern England

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

ObjectivesWe evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to... more ObjectivesWe evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to examine the diet of post‐medieval human and animal populations from England (17th–19th c.), including, for the first time, manufacturing towns in northern England. The potential for identifying C4 crop consumption is explored alongside regional and local patterning in diet by sex and socioeconomic status.Materials and MethodsHumans (n = 216) and animals (n = 168) were analyzed from sites in London and northern England for both carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen (𝛿13Ccoll, 𝛿15Ncoll). Isotopic analysis of bone carbonates (𝛿13Ccarb, 𝛿18Ocarb) was carried out on all humans and 27 animals, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance to assess diagenesis.ResultsVariations in diet were observed between and within different populations by geographical location and socioeconomic status. Three pigs and one cow consumed C4 resources, indicating the availab...

North and South: Exploring isotopic analysis of bone carbonates and collagen to understand post-medieval diets in London and northern England

Objectives: We evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen ... more Objectives: We evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to examine the diet of post-medieval human and animal populations from England (17th-19th c.), including, for the first time, manufacturing towns in northern England. The potential for identifying C 4 crop consumption is explored alongside regional and local patterning in diet by sex and socioeconomic status. Materials and Methods: Humans (n = 216) and animals (n = 168) were analyzed from sites in London and northern England for both carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen (δ 13 C coll , δ 15 N coll). Isotopic analysis of bone carbonates (δ 13 C carb , δ 18 O carb) was carried out on all humans and 27 animals, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance to assess diagenesis. Results: Variations in diet were observed between and within different populations by geographical location and socioeconomic status. Three pigs and one cow consumed C 4 resources, indicating the availability of C 4-fed animal protein. Londoners consumed more animal and marine protein and C 4 resources. Middle-and upper-class populations from both London and northern populations also had greater access to these foods compared to those of lower status in the same regions. Discussion: This substantial multi-isotope dataset deriving from bone carbonate and collagen combined from diverse post-medieval urban communities enabled, for the first time, the biomolecular identification of the dynamics of C 4 consumption (cane sugar/maize) in England, providing insight into the dynamics of food globalization during this period. We also add substantially to the animal dataset for post-medieval England, providing further insight into animal management during a key moment of agricultural change.

Growing Old in the Industrial Age

Bioarchaeology International

The elderly have been neglected within bioarchaeological discourse, partly due to limitations in ... more The elderly have been neglected within bioarchaeological discourse, partly due to limitations in current osteological techniques for identifying older adults. Historical evidence suggests that older women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were often denigrated and neglected, but this has yet to be fully explored within bioarchaeological research. This study aims to investigate elderly underrepresentation in bioarchaeological discourse, and the biological and social impact of aging on women in eighteenthandnineteenth century England. Archival sources were integrated with skeletal evidence from two eighteenth–nineteenth-century cemeterysites and a contemporaneous dataset of individuals of known age-at-death. This formed the interpretative basis for osteological case studies of two women aged 88 and 64 years at death (based on coffin plates). Older adult females from the known age-at-death sample were more frequently placed in the “18+ years” age-at-death category than males. ...

The expendables: Bioarchaeological evidence for pauper apprentices in 19th century England and the health consequences of child labour

PLOS ONE

Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child... more Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child workers employed in hazardous industries. The large-scale employment of children during the rapid industrialisation of the late 18th and early 19th centuries in England is well documented. During this period, the removal of pauper children from workhouses in cities to work as apprentices in rural mills in the North of England was commonplace. Whilst the experiences of some of these children have been recorded historically, this study provides the first direct evidence of their lives through bioarchaeological analysis. The excavation of a rural churchyard cemetery in the village of Fewston, North Yorkshire, yielded the skeletal remains of 154 individuals, including an unusually large proportion of children aged between 8 to 20 years. A multi-method approach was undertaken, including osteological and palaeopathological examination, stable isotope and amelogenin peptide analysis. The bioar...

The expendables: Bioarchaeological evidence for pauper apprentices in 19 th century England and the health consequences of child labour

Plos One, 2023

Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child... more Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child workers employed in hazardous industries. The large-scale employment of children during the rapid industrialisation of the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries in England is well documented. During this period, the removal of pauper children from workhouses in cities to work as apprentices in rural mills in the North of England was commonplace. Whilst the experiences of some of these children have been recorded historically, this study provides the first direct evidence of their lives through bioarchaeological analysis. The excavation of a rural churchyard cemetery in the village of Fewston, North Yorkshire, yielded the skeletal remains of 154 individuals, including an unusually large proportion of children aged between 8 to 20 years. A multi-method approach was undertaken, including osteological and palaeopathological examination, stable isotope and amelogenin peptide analysis. The bioarchaeological results were integrated with historical data regarding a local textile mill in operation during the 18 th-19 th centuries. The results for the children were compared to those obtained from contemporaneous individuals of known identity (from coffin plates) of comparable date. Most of the children exhibited distinctive 'non-local' isotope signatures and a diet low in animal protein when compared to the named local individuals. These children also showed severe growth delays and pathological lesions indicative of early life adversity, as well as respiratory disease, which is a known occupational hazard of mill work. This study has provided unique insights into the harrowing lives of these children; born into poverty and forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions. This analysis provides a stark testimony of the impacts of industrial labour on the health, growth and mortality risk of children, with implications for the present as well as our understanding of the past.

Dental health and disease

Blood Red Roses, 2007

ABSTRACT no No abstract

Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ 13 CO 3 2− : Investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2022

Rationale: Dental calculus (mineralised dental plaque) is composed primarily of hydroxyapatite. W... more Rationale: Dental calculus (mineralised dental plaque) is composed primarily of hydroxyapatite. We hypothesise that the carbonate component of dental calculus will reflect the isotopic composition of ingested simple carbohydrates. Therefore, dental calculus carbonates may be an indicator for sugar consumption, and an alternative to bone carbonate in isotopic palaeodiet studies. Methods: We utilised Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance analysis to characterise the composition and crystallisation of bone and dental calculus before isotope analysis of carbonate. Using a Sercon 20-22 mass spectrometer coupled with a Sercon GSL sample preparation system and an IsoPrime 100 dual inlet mass spectrometer plus Multiprep device to measure carbon, we

A Bronze Age cremation cemetery at Jack Hill, Allithwaite

Archaeological work at Jack Hill, Allithwaite, revealed a cluster of Bronze Age cremation related... more Archaeological work at Jack Hill, Allithwaite, revealed a cluster of Bronze Age cremation related features and burials containing the cremated human remains of 12 individuals. The site is exceptional for Cumbria because of the number of collared urns found; rarely has the full extent of a Bronze Age cremation cemetery been excavated. None of the burials contained multiple individuals and radiocarbon dates indicate the cemetery's use fell within the period 1944 to 1532 cal BC. None of the features intercut and each burial, as well as the site as a whole, may have been marked in some way. There was no evidence for a covering cairn, ditch or ringwork and the focus of the burials is not evident. The burials show considerable variation in form: some were deposited in upright urns, one urn was inverted, and some burials were unurned. The completeness of cremation and the amount of bone recovered also varied, as did associated pyre goods.

A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge: The Iron Age to Early Medieval Evidence

Evidence for pre-Roman Iron Age through to post-Roman activity was revealed during a major progra... more Evidence for pre-Roman Iron Age through to post-Roman activity was revealed during a major programme of archaeological investigation undertaken as an integral part of the construction scheme to widen the A1 trunk road between Dishforth and Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire. Significant archaeological remains were encountered at Healam Bridge, a scheduled Roman settlement located on Dere Street Roman road, midway between the walled towns of Isuriam Brigantum and Cataractonium (the modern villages of Aldborough and Catterick). This two-volume set presents the results and discussion of the excavations and analysis of the environmental and human remains (Volume 1), and the analysis of the artefactual assemblages (Volume 2). Evidence from Healam Bridge indicates activity dating from the early 2nd century AD into the Anglo-Saxon period. The location of the site astride the main Roman route to the north of England and Scotland was reflected in the wide range of pottery and other finds recovered, and activities such as iron-smithing are likely to have served the passing trade as much as the local community. The extensive animal bone assemblage suggested that horse, possibly mule, breeding was a significant activity at Healam Bridge throughout the Roman period. This archive presents appendices B-I and supplementary material resulting from the programme of archaeological works undertaken during the construction scheme to widen the A1 trunk road between Dishforth and Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence from Healam Bridge, along with other evidence for Roman activity along the route is published in two volumes as: Ambrey, C., Fell, D., Fraser, R., Ross, S., Speed, G., and Wood, P. N. (2017) A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence. Volume 1: Archaeological narrative, environmental evidence, and human remains. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph Series Volume 3. Barnard Castle: Northern Archaeological Associates. Ambrey, C., Fell, D., Fraser, R., Ross, S., Speed, G., and Wood, P. N. (2017) A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence. Volume 2: Artefacts. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph Series Volume 3. Barnard Castle: Northern Archaeological Associates. This digital archive includes appendices referenced within the two volumes: Volume 1: title page, acknowledgements, and summary Volume 2: title page, acknowledgements, and summary Appendix B: Table 98 Field Numbers and Chainage Concordance Appendix C: Environmental Remains by Context Appendix D: Environmental Remains Tables 29 to 94 Appendix E: Measurement Archive of Vertebrate Remains Appendix F: Environmental Remains Raw Data, Healam Bridge Appendix G: Environmental Remains Raw Data, Non-Healam Bridge Appendix H: Pottery raw data and supplementary data to support figures in Volume 2 of the publication Appendix I: Key to Coin Catalogue and Table 128 Coin Catalogue The finds, paper, and full digital archive is hosted by the Yorkshire Museum, York Museums Trust. The accession number is YORYM : 2013.78

Supplementary Table 2 from Proteomic evidence of dietary sources in ancient dental calculus

Provenience information for archaeological samples

An extensive archaeological dental calculus dataset spanning 5000 years for ancient human oral microbiome research

bioRxiv, 2024

Archaeological dental calculus can provide detailed insights into the ancient human oral microbio... more

Detection of chromosomal aneuploidy in ancient genomes

Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also p... more Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also provide detailed profiles of the lives of ancient individuals. In this study, we develop a generalised computational approach to detect aneuploidies (atypical autosomal and sex chromosome karyotypes) in the ancient genetic record and distinguish such karyotypes from contamination. We confirm that aneuploidies can be detected even in low-coverage genomes (~0.0001-fold), common in ancient DNA. We apply this method to ancient skeletal remains from Britain to document the first instance of mosaic Turner syndrome (45,X0/46,XX) in the ancient genetic record in an Iron Age individual sequenced to average 9-fold coverage, the earliest known incidence of an individual with a 47,XYY karyotype from the Early Medieval period, as well as individuals with Klinefelter (47,XXY) and Down syndrome (47,XY, + 21). Overall, our approach provides an accessible and automated framework allowing for the detection of individuals with aneuploidies, which extends previous binary approaches. This tool can facilitate the interpretation of burial context and living conditions, as well as elucidate past perceptions of biological sex and people with diverse biological traits.

Grim up North? Exploring the diet of urban populations in post-medieval Greater Manchester, England, using stable isotope analysis

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

Historical evidence suggests that social status played a major role in all aspects of society in ... more Historical evidence suggests that social status played a major role in all aspects of society in eighteenth–nineteenth century England. We present an insight into how socioeconomic status affected the dietary habits of two post-medieval urban populations from Greater Manchester, northwest England. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios were measured in humans from Cross Street Unitarian Chapel (middle class: n = 90) in Manchester city centre and Chapel Street, Hazel Grove (lower status with few middle-class individuals: n = 34). A large sample of 111 faunal remains from Cross Street (n = 37) and Norton Priory, Cheshire (n = 74), provide an animal baseline, dramatically expanding the post-medieval animal isotopic dataset for England. Sheep from Norton Priory show high δ15N isotope values indicative of saltmarsh grazing. Results for human populations revealed a mixed diet of plant and animal protein from C3 terrestrial environments with some potential contribution of ...

Oxbow Books, Dec 12, 2007

Technical report: biological remains from excavations at Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland (site code: 03E1295)

Small quantities of biological remains recovered from the processing of bulk sediment samples fro... more Small quantities of biological remains recovered from the processing of bulk sediment samples from deposits encountered during works in advance of the construction of the Tipperary Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, were submitted for analysis. The cremation burials dated to the late Bronze Age and were thought to be part of a significant ritual prehistoric landscape. Osteological analysis found that three of the burials contained adults, while the small quantity of bone in the fourth burial may represent a pyre deposit or accessory burial. All four burials were unurned, but two contained probable grave goods in the form of fossils and a pottery sherd. Palaeopathology was noted on bone fragments from two of the burials. The plant material consisted mainly of wood charcoal presumably from the cremation pyres. This small group of burials appears to have been reserved for adults and may represent a family plot.

Author response for "Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ <sup>13</sup> CO <sub>3</sub> <sup>2‐</sup> : investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption

Church Cottage, Wheldrake: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Archaeological evaluations were undertaken at the site of Church Cottage in Wheldrake during Nove... more Archaeological evaluations were undertaken at the site of Church Cottage in Wheldrake during November 2020 prior to a programme of internal and external alterations and the construction of an extension. A minimal photographic record of the late 18th century east facing elevation of the cottage was undertaken to preserve an image of the cottage prior to its 21st century extension. Ground preparation for the extension involved the displacement of a single gravestone belonging to the Beilby Family. This stone is to be replaced and repositioned within the churchyard. Ground excavations revealed the presence of eleven burials and one possible cremation at 0.75m below ground level or &gt;14.08m &lt;14.20m AOD. The burials were not excavated and were preserved in situ. The disarticulated human bone was retained and assessed. The minimum number of individuals represented by the bone assemblage numbered six, most being adult, with a small amount indicating younger adults and children, including one perinate. Some illness was noted in the bones, such as degeneration in joints, whereas dental assessment was suggestive of poor oral hygiene or protein rich diets and childhood stress (Ruiz Ventura and Holst, 2021).

Author response for "Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ <sup>13</sup> CO <sub>3</sub> <sup>2‐</sup> : investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption

Detection of chromosomal aneuploidy in ancient genomes

by Malin Holst, Kyriaki Anastasiadou, and Paola Ponce

Communications Biology, 2024

Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also p... more Ancient DNA is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and evolutionary history that can also provide detailed profiles of the lives of ancient individuals. In this study, we develop a generalised computational approach to detect aneuploidies (atypical autosomal and sex chromosome karyotypes) in the ancient genetic record and distinguish such karyotypes from contamination. We confirm that aneuploidies can be detected even in low-coverage genomes (~0.0001-fold), common in ancient DNA. We apply this method to ancient skeletal remains from Britain to document the first instance of mosaic Turner syndrome (45,X0/46,XX) in the ancient genetic record in an Iron Age individual sequenced to average 9-fold coverage, the earliest known incidence of an individual with a 47,XYY karyotype from the Early Medieval period, as well as individuals with Klinefelter (47,XXY) and Down syndrome (47,XY, + 21). Overall, our approach provides an accessible and automated framework allowing for the detection of individuals with aneuploidies, which extends previous binary approaches. This tool can facilitate the interpretation of burial context and living conditions, as well as elucidate past perceptions of biological sex and people with diverse biological traits.

North and South: Exploring isotopic analysis of bone carbonates and collagen to understand post‐medieval diets in London and northern England

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

ObjectivesWe evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to... more ObjectivesWe evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to examine the diet of post‐medieval human and animal populations from England (17th–19th c.), including, for the first time, manufacturing towns in northern England. The potential for identifying C4 crop consumption is explored alongside regional and local patterning in diet by sex and socioeconomic status.Materials and MethodsHumans (n = 216) and animals (n = 168) were analyzed from sites in London and northern England for both carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen (𝛿13Ccoll, 𝛿15Ncoll). Isotopic analysis of bone carbonates (𝛿13Ccarb, 𝛿18Ocarb) was carried out on all humans and 27 animals, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance to assess diagenesis.ResultsVariations in diet were observed between and within different populations by geographical location and socioeconomic status. Three pigs and one cow consumed C4 resources, indicating the availab...

North and South: Exploring isotopic analysis of bone carbonates and collagen to understand post-medieval diets in London and northern England

Objectives: We evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen ... more Objectives: We evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to examine the diet of post-medieval human and animal populations from England (17th-19th c.), including, for the first time, manufacturing towns in northern England. The potential for identifying C 4 crop consumption is explored alongside regional and local patterning in diet by sex and socioeconomic status. Materials and Methods: Humans (n = 216) and animals (n = 168) were analyzed from sites in London and northern England for both carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen (δ 13 C coll , δ 15 N coll). Isotopic analysis of bone carbonates (δ 13 C carb , δ 18 O carb) was carried out on all humans and 27 animals, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance to assess diagenesis. Results: Variations in diet were observed between and within different populations by geographical location and socioeconomic status. Three pigs and one cow consumed C 4 resources, indicating the availability of C 4-fed animal protein. Londoners consumed more animal and marine protein and C 4 resources. Middle-and upper-class populations from both London and northern populations also had greater access to these foods compared to those of lower status in the same regions. Discussion: This substantial multi-isotope dataset deriving from bone carbonate and collagen combined from diverse post-medieval urban communities enabled, for the first time, the biomolecular identification of the dynamics of C 4 consumption (cane sugar/maize) in England, providing insight into the dynamics of food globalization during this period. We also add substantially to the animal dataset for post-medieval England, providing further insight into animal management during a key moment of agricultural change.

Growing Old in the Industrial Age

Bioarchaeology International

The elderly have been neglected within bioarchaeological discourse, partly due to limitations in ... more The elderly have been neglected within bioarchaeological discourse, partly due to limitations in current osteological techniques for identifying older adults. Historical evidence suggests that older women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were often denigrated and neglected, but this has yet to be fully explored within bioarchaeological research. This study aims to investigate elderly underrepresentation in bioarchaeological discourse, and the biological and social impact of aging on women in eighteenthandnineteenth century England. Archival sources were integrated with skeletal evidence from two eighteenth–nineteenth-century cemeterysites and a contemporaneous dataset of individuals of known age-at-death. This formed the interpretative basis for osteological case studies of two women aged 88 and 64 years at death (based on coffin plates). Older adult females from the known age-at-death sample were more frequently placed in the “18+ years” age-at-death category than males. ...

The expendables: Bioarchaeological evidence for pauper apprentices in 19th century England and the health consequences of child labour

PLOS ONE

Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child... more Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child workers employed in hazardous industries. The large-scale employment of children during the rapid industrialisation of the late 18th and early 19th centuries in England is well documented. During this period, the removal of pauper children from workhouses in cities to work as apprentices in rural mills in the North of England was commonplace. Whilst the experiences of some of these children have been recorded historically, this study provides the first direct evidence of their lives through bioarchaeological analysis. The excavation of a rural churchyard cemetery in the village of Fewston, North Yorkshire, yielded the skeletal remains of 154 individuals, including an unusually large proportion of children aged between 8 to 20 years. A multi-method approach was undertaken, including osteological and palaeopathological examination, stable isotope and amelogenin peptide analysis. The bioar...

The expendables: Bioarchaeological evidence for pauper apprentices in 19 th century England and the health consequences of child labour

Plos One, 2023

Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child... more Child labour is the most common form of child abuse in the world today, with almost half of child workers employed in hazardous industries. The large-scale employment of children during the rapid industrialisation of the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries in England is well documented. During this period, the removal of pauper children from workhouses in cities to work as apprentices in rural mills in the North of England was commonplace. Whilst the experiences of some of these children have been recorded historically, this study provides the first direct evidence of their lives through bioarchaeological analysis. The excavation of a rural churchyard cemetery in the village of Fewston, North Yorkshire, yielded the skeletal remains of 154 individuals, including an unusually large proportion of children aged between 8 to 20 years. A multi-method approach was undertaken, including osteological and palaeopathological examination, stable isotope and amelogenin peptide analysis. The bioarchaeological results were integrated with historical data regarding a local textile mill in operation during the 18 th-19 th centuries. The results for the children were compared to those obtained from contemporaneous individuals of known identity (from coffin plates) of comparable date. Most of the children exhibited distinctive 'non-local' isotope signatures and a diet low in animal protein when compared to the named local individuals. These children also showed severe growth delays and pathological lesions indicative of early life adversity, as well as respiratory disease, which is a known occupational hazard of mill work. This study has provided unique insights into the harrowing lives of these children; born into poverty and forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions. This analysis provides a stark testimony of the impacts of industrial labour on the health, growth and mortality risk of children, with implications for the present as well as our understanding of the past.

Dental health and disease

Blood Red Roses, 2007

ABSTRACT no No abstract

Isotope analysis of human dental calculus δ 13 CO 3 2− : Investigating a potential new proxy for sugar consumption

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2022

Rationale: Dental calculus (mineralised dental plaque) is composed primarily of hydroxyapatite. W... more Rationale: Dental calculus (mineralised dental plaque) is composed primarily of hydroxyapatite. We hypothesise that the carbonate component of dental calculus will reflect the isotopic composition of ingested simple carbohydrates. Therefore, dental calculus carbonates may be an indicator for sugar consumption, and an alternative to bone carbonate in isotopic palaeodiet studies. Methods: We utilised Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance analysis to characterise the composition and crystallisation of bone and dental calculus before isotope analysis of carbonate. Using a Sercon 20-22 mass spectrometer coupled with a Sercon GSL sample preparation system and an IsoPrime 100 dual inlet mass spectrometer plus Multiprep device to measure carbon, we

A Bronze Age cremation cemetery at Jack Hill, Allithwaite

Archaeological work at Jack Hill, Allithwaite, revealed a cluster of Bronze Age cremation related... more Archaeological work at Jack Hill, Allithwaite, revealed a cluster of Bronze Age cremation related features and burials containing the cremated human remains of 12 individuals. The site is exceptional for Cumbria because of the number of collared urns found; rarely has the full extent of a Bronze Age cremation cemetery been excavated. None of the burials contained multiple individuals and radiocarbon dates indicate the cemetery's use fell within the period 1944 to 1532 cal BC. None of the features intercut and each burial, as well as the site as a whole, may have been marked in some way. There was no evidence for a covering cairn, ditch or ringwork and the focus of the burials is not evident. The burials show considerable variation in form: some were deposited in upright urns, one urn was inverted, and some burials were unurned. The completeness of cremation and the amount of bone recovered also varied, as did associated pyre goods.

A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge: The Iron Age to Early Medieval Evidence

Evidence for pre-Roman Iron Age through to post-Roman activity was revealed during a major progra... more Evidence for pre-Roman Iron Age through to post-Roman activity was revealed during a major programme of archaeological investigation undertaken as an integral part of the construction scheme to widen the A1 trunk road between Dishforth and Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire. Significant archaeological remains were encountered at Healam Bridge, a scheduled Roman settlement located on Dere Street Roman road, midway between the walled towns of Isuriam Brigantum and Cataractonium (the modern villages of Aldborough and Catterick). This two-volume set presents the results and discussion of the excavations and analysis of the environmental and human remains (Volume 1), and the analysis of the artefactual assemblages (Volume 2). Evidence from Healam Bridge indicates activity dating from the early 2nd century AD into the Anglo-Saxon period. The location of the site astride the main Roman route to the north of England and Scotland was reflected in the wide range of pottery and other finds recovered, and activities such as iron-smithing are likely to have served the passing trade as much as the local community. The extensive animal bone assemblage suggested that horse, possibly mule, breeding was a significant activity at Healam Bridge throughout the Roman period. This archive presents appendices B-I and supplementary material resulting from the programme of archaeological works undertaken during the construction scheme to widen the A1 trunk road between Dishforth and Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence from Healam Bridge, along with other evidence for Roman activity along the route is published in two volumes as: Ambrey, C., Fell, D., Fraser, R., Ross, S., Speed, G., and Wood, P. N. (2017) A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence. Volume 1: Archaeological narrative, environmental evidence, and human remains. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph Series Volume 3. Barnard Castle: Northern Archaeological Associates. Ambrey, C., Fell, D., Fraser, R., Ross, S., Speed, G., and Wood, P. N. (2017) A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence. Volume 2: Artefacts. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph Series Volume 3. Barnard Castle: Northern Archaeological Associates. This digital archive includes appendices referenced within the two volumes: Volume 1: title page, acknowledgements, and summary Volume 2: title page, acknowledgements, and summary Appendix B: Table 98 Field Numbers and Chainage Concordance Appendix C: Environmental Remains by Context Appendix D: Environmental Remains Tables 29 to 94 Appendix E: Measurement Archive of Vertebrate Remains Appendix F: Environmental Remains Raw Data, Healam Bridge Appendix G: Environmental Remains Raw Data, Non-Healam Bridge Appendix H: Pottery raw data and supplementary data to support figures in Volume 2 of the publication Appendix I: Key to Coin Catalogue and Table 128 Coin Catalogue The finds, paper, and full digital archive is hosted by the Yorkshire Museum, York Museums Trust. The accession number is YORYM : 2013.78

Supplementary Table 2 from Proteomic evidence of dietary sources in ancient dental calculus

Provenience information for archaeological samples

Towton Revisited: the Human Remains

Paper presented at the CBA conference, London 2012

‘To prove I’m not forgot’ - Giving a voice to the urban poor through analysis of skeletal populations from Rotherham and Leeds, Northern England

Lecture at 16th Annual Conference of the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Oste... more

Human Remains in Roman York and Yorkshire

Paper presented at the YAS/RAS 150 Years Roman Conference, York 2013

Growing Old in the Industrial Age: ageing, health, and social identity in elderly women (AD 18 th -19 th centuries

by Malin Holst and Sophie Newman

Bioarchaeology International, 2023