Bone biographies, which use chemistry to uncover past lives, have revealed what life was like for survivors of the Black Death in medieval England. By analyzing the ratios of different elements in human bones, researchers were able to determine the levels of nutrition, stress, and disease among individuals during certain points in their lives.
The research showed that the diets of those who survived the Black Death became increasingly unhealthy in the years afterwards. This could have been due to a combination of factors, such as the disruption to supply chains and trade, the economic hardship caused by the devastating mortality, and a period of depressed agricultural output. Those who survived were more likely to experience seasonal stress, which is linked to an undernourished diet. They may have suffered from weakened immunity and heightened exposure to infection and disease.
Interestingly, the archaeologists also found that life expectancy briefly increased in the aftermath of the Black Death. This could be partly attributed to individuals who had lower levels of exposure to the disease surviving, to a reduction in overcrowding, or to an increased number of jobs being available for those who remained.
Overall, these bone biographies provide a unique insight into the lives of individuals who lived through the tumultuous aftermath of the Black Death. They illustrate the complex impact this pandemic had on the health of those who survived, and bring to light a fascinating yet sometimes overlooked chapter of history.
