York Historic Environment Record

York Osteoarchaeology Ltd was commissioned by the York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research Ltd to carry out the osteological analysis of four skeletons and a cranium from the site of the Queen’s Hotel, York. The skeletons were recovered during archaeological excavations at the junction of Skeldergate and Micklegate. The excavations took place between June and September 1989 and revealed a small number of east-west burials; it is not known if the burials formed part of a larger cemetery, but are believed to date from the early medieval period. Osteological analysis revealed that the small group included a male and a female that had reached mature adulthood, an old middle adult male, a young adult female, and another female adult that could not be aged more accurately. Two of the adults whose stature could be calculated were above the average height for the early medieval period, while the third was just shorter than the mean stature. The males were affected by periods of stress in early childhood, which had manifest as grooves in the surface of their teeth. The young adult female had inflammatory lesions on the internal surfaces of her cranium, which did not appear to be active at the time of her death. Minor developmental anomalies were observed in the young adult female and the mature adult male, but would not have caused the individuals any health problems. Evidence for joint degeneration was noted in the mature adults and old middle adult male. Osteoarthritis had developed in the cervical spine of the mature adult female and old middle adult male, as well as in his thumb. Lesions in the spine in all the adults are indicative of spinal stress. A fracture to the left ulna of the old middle adult male was well healed at the time of his death, and may have been received when shielding the body or face from a blow. Crush fractures in the spine of the mature adult female may have resulted from a slip and landing on her bottom, or a fall from a height and landing on her heels. Two benign tumours were evident on the cranium of the old middle adult male. Dental plaque concretions were noted on the majority of teeth. Notably, the males suffered from greater deposits than the females, which may suggest that their oral hygiene had not been adequate. All four individuals exhibited evidence of periodontal disease, which was most likely caused by plaque concretions at the gum-line. The prevalence rate of caries was double that expected for the period. The frequency of abscesses was consistent with the mean for the period, but no obvious cause was evident.