Human Bones Reframe Lives of Disabled People in Middle Ages

Human bones discovered by archaeologists offer a window into the lives of Middle Age citizens and upends previously held beliefs about the treatment of disabled people in ancient times, a study recently published in Open Archaeology reported.

At the site of a church in Lund, Sweden, researchers discovered the body of a man, known only as Individual 2399, who died somewhere between 1300 A.D. and 1536 A.D. Analysis of the bones showed that the man endured a horrific leg injury in his early 20s, one which continued to recur throughout his life. At some point he dislocated his left femur in such an extreme manner that he was no longer able to walk on his own, likely using crutches or some form of leg brace.

More remarkable than the injury itself was the fact that the victim was seen under continuing care by a rash of doctors. After the initial injury, he developed a bone marrow infection known as osteomyelitis which manifests itself with open wounds and abscesses and would have required repeated treatments. It’s a big change for researchers in terms of contextualizing the lives of disabled people in the Middle Ages. "Inferring social norms around physical impairment and disability from religious and legal documents is challenging since it's an idealized representation," lead researcher Blair Nolan explained. "We can add more depth to our knowledge of disability and identity through close osteological and archaeological analysis."

In the Middle Ages, disability was often viewed as punishment for sin or some sort of penance, but the treatment received by Individual 2399, as well as his burial spot on a high hill under the church, would indicate that he was an elite member of the society and therefore afforded a more sympathetic view of his disability.

Researchers are quick to specify this is only the beginning of their work. They hope that further digs and analysis of Individual 2399’s bones will tell them whether or not his treatment was an anomaly or part of a long-forgotten Middle Ages practice. “These ancient remains let us catch a glimpse of the profoundly human moments of suffering, healing, and solidarity that existed even in periods often depicted as dark and harsh,” Nolan said. “That's a story that is worth telling.”