What can children’s bones reveal about life and death in the past? In this episode of The Resurrectionists, host Megan McGrath speaks with Isobel Grimley, a PhD researcher at the University of Bradford, about her groundbreaking work on frailty in children and adolescents from medieval and post-medieval England.Discover how skeletons challenge the myth that children were simply “little adults,” what their remains tell us about resilience, disease, and survival, and why studying young individuals transforms our understanding of history. From hidden stresses written in bones to the ethical questions of studying child remains, this episode uncovers the secret lives of children long gone, but never forgotten.🎧 Love mysteries? Watch more episodes and dive deeper into the stories! https://bit.ly/resurrectionists 👉 Explore more mysteries and exclusive content here! https://linktr.ee/theresurrectionists 💡 Got a case in mind? Suggest new episode ideas here! https://bit.ly/episodesuggestionsGuest Info:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isobel-grimley-379325223/BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/isobelgrimley.bsky.socialUpcoming Publications:Grimley, I.J., Koon, H. and Curtis-Summers, S. (in prep.) The Developmental Frailty Index: A Novel Method to Assess Frailty in Non Adult and Young Adult Human Skeletal Remains. Submission as a Brief Communication to the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, likely Spring 2026.Grimley, I.J. and Craig-Atkins, E. (in prep.) Harnessing the Concept of Frailty to Investigate the Impact of Physiological Stress on Past Pubertal Timing. Submission as a Research article to the International Journal of Paleopathology, likely Autumn 2025. King, J., Weale, M. C., Jennings, B., George, S. Grimley, I.J, Castells Navarro, L., Sutton-Butler, A. (inprep) Redefining Teaching and Learning in Archaeology from the Perspective of a Visually Impaired Student and their Supporting Academic Staff. Invited book chapter (Archaeology to Transform andDisrupt), currently under review by book editors.MusicDanse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005Artist: http://incompetech.com/
QnA special episode answering your questions!
Discover how Paris’s ancient quarries, once used to build the city, transformed into one of the world’s largest underground graveyards. From collapsing streets to overcrowded cemeteries, uncover the chilling history behind the Paris Catacombs and the millions of skeletons resting beneath the City of Lights. 🎧 Love video? Watch episodes and dive deeper into the stories here! 👉 Explore more mysteries and exclusive content here! 💡 Got a case in mind? Suggest new episode ideas here! References Author Unknown (2024) “The Ossuary”, Les Catacombes de Paris. https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/history/ossuary Deps, P. D., Collin, S. M., Robin, S., & Charlier, P. (2020) “Leprosy in skulls from the Paris Catacombs”, Annals of Human Biology, 1–6. doi:10.1080/03014460.2020.171 Lau, R., Bellido, M., Reichert, A., & Leung, E. Y. C. (2017). “Transforming Catacombs and the City of Paris: The Spatial Relationship Between the Home for the Living and the Dead”, Dynamics of Community Formation, 237–248. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-53359-3_12 Schmeidler, K. (2022) “Prevalence of Wormian (Sutural) Bones in the Paris Catacombs Ossuary”, The FASEB Journal, 36. 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R5654. Willsher, K. (2024) “‘Bodies were dropped down quarry shafts’: secrets of millions buried in Paris catacombs come to light”, The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/19/bodies-quarry-shafts-millions-buried-paris-catacombs Music Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Explore the fascinating story of a disabled teenager who lived in Roman Britain nearly 2,000 years ago. Through the osteological study of their remains, we uncover how they adapted to life with impairments and what their care reveals about attitudes toward disability in the ancient world. Discover how this young individual’s life challenges our modern assumptions about Roman society and the treatment of people with disabilities. 🎧 Love video? Watch episodes on YouTube here! 👉 Explore more mysteries and exclusive content here! 💡 Got a case in mind? Suggest new episode ideas here! References Castells Navarro, L., Southwell-Wright, W., Manchester, K. and Buckberry, J. (2017) Interpretation of a probable case of Poliomyelitis in the Romano-British social context. Nagouse, E. and Jenner, G. (2021) "Disability in the Ancient World", You're Dead to Me Podcast. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0b0wd4p Roberts, C.A., Knüsel, C.J. and Race, L. (2004) "A foot deformity from a Romano-British cemetery at Gloucester, England, and the current evidence for talipes in palaeopathology", Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 14: 389-403. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.723 Tilly, L. (2012) "The Bioarchaeology of Care", The Society of American Archaeology Archaeological Record 12 (3), 39-41. Music Intro: Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Explore the mystery behind Saint Valentine’s relics, scattered across Europe from his skull in Rome to a vial of blood in Dublin. Are these bones really his, or is the story of the patron saint of love more fiction than fact? Join us as we uncover the truth behind the relics and the man behind Valentine’s Day. 👉 Explore more mysteries and exclusive content here! 💡 Got a case in mind? Suggest new episode ideas here! References Author Unknown (2012) “Relics of St. Valentine at Whitefriar Street Church”, Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/relics-of-saint-valentine-at-the-whitefriar-street-church Author Unknown (2013) “What is Valentine's Day and how did it start?”, BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16945378 Author Unknown (2018) “St Valentine: Does this 3D reconstruction show his face?”, BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-43056345 Cruz, J.C. (1984) Relics: What They Are and Why They Matter. Our Sunday Visitor Inc., Huntington, Indiana, USA. Estabrook, K. (2016) Who was St. Valentine, really? The gruesome history behind the “day of love”, The Chanticleer, 54(14), 1. Hales, J.W. (1882) St. Valentine's Day, The Antiquary, 5, 41-50. History.com Editors (2024) “History of Valentine’s Day”, History. https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2 Holleman, A. W. J. (1973) Ovid and the Lupercalia, Historia: Zeitschrift Für Alte Geschichte, 22(2), 260–68. Moraes, C. (2017) “The 3D facial reconstruction of Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers!”, Arc-Team Open Research. https://arc-team-open-research.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-3d-facial-reconstruction-of-saint.html O’Connell, R. (2022) “Behind the mystery of Saint Valentine’s bones”, National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/behind-the-mystery-of-st-valentines-final-resting-place Sachs, E. (1963) Some Notes on the Lupercalia, The American Journal of Philology, 84(3), 266–79. Tennant, P.M.W. (1988) THE LUPERCALIA AND THE ROMULUS AND REMUS LEGEND, Acta Classica, 31, 81–93. The Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica (2024) “Lupercalia”, Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lupercalia The Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica (2024) “Saint Valentine”, Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Valentine Music Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Delve into the tragic final hours of Herculaneum, the wealthy Roman town buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Once thought to have escaped, over 300 victims were found centuries later, waiting for a rescue that never came. Discover how this extraordinary archaeological find sheds new light on ancient Roman life and the catastrophic event that sealed their fate. 👉 Explore more mysteries and exclusive content here! 💡 Got a case in mind? Suggest new episode ideas here! References Author Unknown (2024) "Herculaneum", Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Herculaneum Author Unknown (2024) “Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata”, UNESCO World Heritage Convention. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/829/ Author Unknown (2024) Parco Archelogico di Ercolano. https://ercolano.cultura.gov.it/?lang=en Bisel, C. (1991). The human skeletons of Herculaneum. International Journal of Anthropology, 6(1), 1–20. doi:10.1007/bf02447284 Bisel, S. C. (1987) Human Bones at Herculaneum, Rivista di studi pompeiani, I, 123-129. Capasso, L. (2000). Herculaneum victims of the volcanic eruptions of Vesuvius in 79 AD. The Lancet, 356(9238), 1344–1346. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(00)02827-0 Martyn, R., et al. (2020). A re-evaluation of manner of death at Roman Herculaneum following the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius. Antiquity, 94(373), 76–91. doi:10.15184/aqy.2019.215 Martyn, R. E. V., Garnsey, P., Fattore, L., Petrone, P., Sperduti, A., Bondioli, L., & Craig, O. E. (2018). Capturing Roman dietary variability in the catastrophic death assemblage at Herculaneum. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 19, 1023–1029. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.08.008 Petrone, P. (2019) The Herculaneum victims of the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption: a review, Journal of Anthropological Sciences, 97, 1-22. doi 10.4436/jass.97008 Music Intro: Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Discover the chilling history of Kilkenny Union Workhouse, where over 1,000 forgotten souls were unearthed beneath a modern shopping center. In this episode, we delve into the tragic impact of Ireland's Great Famine and the significance of this shocking discovery. Join us as we uncover the untold stories of those who suffered and explore what their experiences reveal about the famine's impact on Irish society. Don’t miss this poignant journey into the past that brings to light the lives behind the lost names. 🎧 Love mysteries? Watch more episodes and dive deeper into the stories here! 👉 Explore more mysteries and exclusive content here! 💡 Got a case in mind? Suggest new episode ideas here! References Acreman, M. (2022) 175: The Kilkenny Famine Experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIX0m00ER6w&t=120s Dwyer, Fin. Irish History Podcast. https://www.irishhistorypodcast.ie/the-great-famine-1/ Fennelly, K. (2017). Victims of Ireland’s Great Famine: The Bioarchaeology of Mass Burials at Kilkenny Union Workhouse. Post-Medieval Archaeology, 51(3), 525–526. doi:10.1080/00794236.2017.1383585 Geber, J. (2011). Osteoarchaeological and Archaeological Insights into the Deaths and Intramural Mass Burials at the Kilkenny Union Workhouse Between 1847-51 During the Great Famine. Old Kilkenny Review, 63, 64-75. Geber, J. (2015) Victims of Ireland's Great Famine: The Bioarchaeology of Mass Burials at Kilkenny Union Workhouse. Geber, J. (2016). “Children in a Ragged State”: Seeking a Biocultural Narrative of a Workhouse Childhood in Ireland During the Great Famine (1845–1852). Childhood in the Past, 9(2), 120–138. doi:10.1080/17585716.2016.1205344 Geber, J. & Murphy, E. (2012). Scurvy in the Great Irish Famine: Evidence of Vitamin C Deficiency from a Mid-19th Century Skeletal Population. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 148, 512-524. doi:10.1002/ajpa.22066. Godin, M. (2020).Irish Sent Money to Native American Community Hit by COVID-19, Returning Historic Favour. Time. https://time.com/5832146/irish-send-money-native-american/ Kaur, H. (2020). The Irish are sending relief to Native Americans, inspired by a donation from a tribe during the Great Famine. CNN World. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/06/world/ireland-native-americans-choctaw-gift-trnd/index.html Meckel, L. (2021) Structural Violence in Éire: The Bone Histology of Victims from the Great Famine (Kilkenny, Ireland 1845-1852). University of Otago. O'Dwyer, M. (1995). The Famine in Kilkenny, as Reported in the Kilkenny Journal Newspaper September 1845 to March 1848. Old Kilkenny Review, 114-128. Powell, M. (1965) The Workhouses of Ireland. University Review, 3(7), 3–16. Music Intro: Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
In 1933, Arthur Kingsley Porter, a renowned Harvard professor and art historian, vanished from the cliffs of Inishbofin, sparking Ireland's first inquest without a body. Was his death a tragic accident, a carefully planned escape, or something more sinister? Explore the mystery surrounding the real-life "Indiana Jones" and the decades-long debate over his mysterious disappearance. 👉 Explore more mysteries and exclusive content here! 💡 Got a case in mind? Suggest new episode ideas here! Reference Brush, K. (2017). Medieval Art through the Camera Lens: The Photography of Arthur Kingsley Porter and Lucy Wallace Porter. Visual Resources, 33(3–4), pp. 252–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973762.2017.1349623. Costigan, Lucy. (2013) Glenveagh Mystery: The Life, Work and Disappearance of Arthur Kingsley Porter. Irish Academy Press, ISBN: 978-1-908928-11-5. Forbes, Edward W. Arthur Kingsley Porter (1883-1933). Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, vol. 69, no. 13, 1935, pp. 537–41. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20023098. RTÉ Radio 1. The Disappearance of American Millionaire Arthur Kingsley Porter. https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/highlights/1237410-the-disappeanance-of-american-millionaire-arthur-kingsley-porter/. TG4. Ar Iarraidh: Kingsley Porter. https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/play/?pid=6311961784112&title=Ar%20Iarraidh%20Kingsley%20Porter&series=Ar%20Iarraidh%20Kingsley%20Porter&genre=Faisneis&pcode=628755. The Guardian. Inishbofin Mystery: US Archaeologist’s Irish Disappearance Faces TV Examination. https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/04/inishbofin-mystery-us-archaeologists-irish-disappearance-tv-examination. Music Intro: Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Discover the hidden history of Southwark's Crossbones Graveyard, an unconsecrated burial site in London. Unearthed in 1989, this graveyard holds 15,000 bodies, including paupers, prostitutes, and the forgotten outcasts of Victorian society. We explore its dark past, the myths of the 'Winchester Geese,' and the harsh realities of life, disease, and death in 17th-19th century London. Find more here! Leave recommendations for season 2 References Berg, A. L. (2019). From religious to secular place-making: How does the secular matter for religious place construction in the local?. Social Compass, 66(1), 35-48. Crossbones.org.uk. History of Cross Bones Graveyard. Retrieved from https://crossbones.org.uk/history/ Find a Grave. Elizabeth Mitchell Memorial. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88438448/elizabeth-mitchell Museum of London. Cross Bones Post-Medieval Cemetery. Retrieved from https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/collections/other-collection-databases-and-libraries/centre-human-bioarchaeology/osteological-database/post-medieval-cemeteries/cross-bones-post-medieval Museum of London. Cross Bones Photographs. Retrieved from https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/collections/other-collection-databases-and-libraries/centre-human-bioarchaeology/osteological-database/post-medieval-cemeteries/cross-bones-photographs Nally, C. (2018). Cross Bones Graveyard: Excavating the Prostitute in Neo-Victorian Popular Culture. Journal of Victorian Culture, 23(2), 247-261. doi:10.1093/jvc/vcx006 Planetslade. Cross Bones 17. Retrieved from http://www.planetslade.com/cross-bones-17.html Szreter, S., & Siena, K. (2021). The pox in Boswell's London: an estimate of the extent of syphilis infection in the metropolis in the 1770s. The Economic History Review, 74, 372-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/ehr.13000 Winchester Heritage Open Days. The Buried History of the Winchester Geese - Part One. Retrieved from https://www.winchesterheritageopendays.org/hampshire-histbites-episodes/2020/11/20/the-buried-history-of-the-winchester-geese-part-one Winchester Heritage Open Days. The Buried History of the Winchester Geese - Part Two. Retrieved from https://www.winchesterheritageopendays.org/hampshire-histbites-episodes/2020/11/26/the-buried-history-of-the-winchester-geese-part-two Music Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=005 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Unearth the captivating mysteries of Çatalhöyük, an ancient Neolithic settlement where beds doubled as resting places for both the living and the deceased. Located in the heart of Anatolia, this extraordinary site challenges conventional norms with its honeycomb layout, absent streets, and the peculiar absence of roadways. Beneath raised platforms, the remains of ancient inhabitants tell an unusual tale, with homes holding as many as 30 individuals. Discover the perplexing secrets of complete skeletons, heads moved to separate locations, and the rare plaster-encased skulls that reveal unique burial customs. This Neolithic community blurs the line between biology and society, redefining the very concept of family and questioning the boundary between life and death. Join us as we explore the enigmatic practices hidden beneath the beds of Çatalhöyük, offering a fresh perspective on ancient life, death, and the enduring connections that transcend time. Follow for more! References Barley, N. (1995) Dancing on the grave: encounters with death. London: John Murray. Çatalhöyük Research Project (no date) Çatalhöyük site guidebook. Çatalhöyük Research Project. http://www.catalhoyuk.com/sites/default/files/Catalhoyuk-Guidebook-ENGLISH.pdf Accessed 2 September 2021 Haddow, S.D. and Knüsel, C.J. (2017) Skull retrieval and secondary burial practices in the Neolithic Near East: Recent insights from Çatalhöyük, Turkey. Bioarchaeology International, 1(1/2), 52-71. Houwink ten Cate, P. H.J., Collon, D. P.M., Haldon, J.F., Easton, D.F., Lloyd, S. H.F. and Woods, J.E. (2021). Anatolia. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Anatolia Accessed 1 September 2021 Pilloud, M.A. and Larsen, C.S. (2001) “Official” and “practical” kin: Inferring social and community structure from dental phenotype at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey. American journal of physical anthropology 145(4), 519-530. UNESCO. (no date) Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1405/ Accessed 10 September 2021 Yaka, R., Mapelli, I., Kaptan, D., Doğu, A., Chyleński, M., Erdal, Ö.D., Koptekin, D., Vural, K.B., Bayliss, A., Mazzucato, C. and Fer, E. (2021) Variable kinship patterns in Neolithic Anatolia revealed by ancient genomes. Current Biology 31(11) 2455-2468.
In this debut episode we embark on a bone-chilling expedition through the annals of history to explore the dark origins of modern medicine. From the ancient medical practices of Greece and Rome to the resurgence of medical research in the Victorian era, we uncover the roots of our current medical knowledge. But it's not all stethoscopes and textbooks. Join us as we reveal the grim, sometimes shocking, and always intriguing stories that shaped the medical landscape. Learn how the demand for bodies led to the rise of Resurrectionists, daring individuals who unearthed the recently deceased to supply anatomy schools. Uncover the legacy of infamous figures like Burke and Hare, whose killing spree shocked the public and changed the course of medical history. Explore the aftermath of the Anatomy Act of 1832, which made it legal to use unclaimed bodies for medical research, leading to a shift in medical education. Listen in as we analyze the lives, deaths, and dissections of those who paved the way for modern medicine, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the evolution of healthcare practices. Don't miss this captivating and educational episode that takes you on a journey through the shadowy side of medicine's history. Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow The Resurrection Woman for more morbid archaeology Learn more! Resurrection Men: a tale of two Williams Resurrectionists' Excursions: Evidence of Postmortem Dissection from the Spring Street Presbyterian Church Andreas Vesalius Bibliography The study of anatomy in England from 1700 to the early 20th century From cradle to grave via the dissection room: the role of foetal and infant bodies in anatomical education from the late 1700s to early 1900s Exploring Evidence of Nineteenth Century Dissection in the Dunning Poorhouse Cemetery The excavation and analysis of an 18th-century deposit of anatomical remains and chemical apparatus from the rear of the first Ashmolean Museum
Welcome to "The Resurrectionists," the morbid archaeology and history podcast where secrets long buried are brought back to life. Join me, osteoarchaeologist Megan McGrath as we delve deep into the captivating history of human remains, from ancient burial customs to cutting-edge forensics that reshape our understanding of the past. In this trailer, get a glimpse of the bone-chilling expeditions and stories of the macabre that await you. Whether you're a curious wanderer or a dedicated history seeker, join us on this morbid journey to resurrect the past, one bone at a time. Watch the video version on YouTube! Find us at: linktr.ee/TheResurrectionists