Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones
Think an exhibition of medical history sounds pretty dry-as-dust? Think again.
The Wellcome Collection is currently hosting an exhibition of skeletons from London’s past. Gruesome and compelling.
There are Romans, nuns, prostitutes. Some have names, others are forever anonymous.
From excavations in Southwark we find out that though the medieval monastic rule laid great stress on fasting and abstinence, many of the skeletons found in the monastery graveyard show signs of problems connected with obesity. A little further down the road at the Cross Bones cemetery, skeletons show signs of rickets – a disease associated with poverty – as well as syphilis.
Each skeleton comes with its forensic history. It really is quite amazing just how much we know about some of these ex-citizens of London – just from those dry bones. Though you might just go to gawp at a few skeletons, you’ll learn a lot about forensic science – and about the human body.
The exhibition also fascinates me because it gives you an inkling of just how many bodies there are buried under our London streets. The skeletons in this show all come from excavations by the Museum of London – usually where a new building’s foundations disturbed an old graveyard.
You can practically imagine the bones crunching under your feet as you walk through the city. If that doesn’t give you a macabre thrill, nothing will.
Where: The Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road (King’s Cross or Euston tube)
When: till 28 September – Tues-Sat 10-18 (till 22 h on Thursday), 11-18 Sunday
How much: free
Photo credit – Dawn Endico on flickr
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