battlefield archeology Flashcards
why are medieval battles hard to investigate?
often can only rely on textual sources which offer little clue to precise location of battle and changes in landscape over time make it hard to read terrain. the dead are also often moved over time
Case study: battle of visby
battle between danish king and Militia of Gotland in 1361
excavated in 1920s which revealed 1185 individuals
what did the excavation of Battle of Visby reveal?
in first grave remains laid carefully and in other graves piled in heaps. most unusually the men were buried in their armour
why was it unusual for men to be buried in armour?
armour would be taken off dead soldiers to make new armour or melted down, however at Visby it was not taken, the armour may have been outdated or the summer heat made the bodies swell making them unpleasant to move
case study: Battle of Towton
wars of the roses (1455-87)
March 1461 Battle of Towton, victory of Edward earl of march (son of Richard Duke of York) he was then crowned Edward iv.
death toll estimated at 20,000-28,000, bloodiest battle in war of roses
what did the excavation of Towton reveal?
accidental discovery of 1996, 28 skeletons discovered initially and a further 3 single burials found later. all skeletons were male age ranged between 15-45
what did the burials of Towton reveal?
graves were typical christian burial, facing east west, however some buried face down on the sides which was not typically christian.
may have been done as they were seen as enemies
what did the wounds of the Towton excavation reveal?
vast majority of wounds were result of sharp force trauma, wounds to hands and forearms from defensive action. the neck also target of attack but no complete decapitations but partial deep cuts
what did the evidence from skulls of Towton reveal?
33 skulls found, average 3.9 wounds per skull, force trauma caused by sword and daggers, back of the head was target and face most prone to blade wounds.
most common form of trauma was to the head with face being most common wound
case study: Richard iii
Richard iii defeated in battle of Bosworth 1485, his remains were lost until found in 2012 in a car park in Leicester
what did the excavation of Richard iii reveal about him?
the finding of his bones showed a spinal disability that would have been visible with a hunch and very painful for him. before this it was only mentioned in text.
the bones also revealed the killing blow was a slice to the back of the head
what question does the Towton excavation raise?
if the death toll was 20,000+, how come only around 30 bodies found, where are the rest.
could prove the death toll wrong or written texts don’t explain the actual battlefield location precisely
what are some common misconceptions of life in Middle Ages?
- average life expectancy was meaningless statistic as people could live to older ages of 70s and 80s. only childhood mortality and female childbearing mortality brought it down
- dental health was reasonably good as diets were not high in sugar
- medical care involved plant based remedies which were effective
what can archeology tell us from death and burial in Middle Ages?
- isotopic analysis can tell us where people grew up and diet
- traces of disease would be left on bones
- certain injuries or deviant burials can tell whether person was executed for a crime
what was the challenge of researching suicide in the Middle Ages?
vast majority of suicides conducted in private, no witnesses, and must rely in the people who find the body
