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St Martin's Uncovered: Investigations in the Churchyard of St. Martin's-in-the-Bull-Ring, Birmingham, 2001

by Megan Brickley and Simon Buteux, Josephine Adams and Richard Cherrington

The archaeological excavations at St. Martin's churchyard, Birmingham uncovered 857 burials dating to the late 18th and the 19th century. The burials represent a cross-section of Birmingham's population during the peiod of the Industrial Revolution. Detailed anthropological analysis was carried out on a sample of 505 of the skeletons, investigating aspects of demography and health. Compared to the modern British population, the analysis revealed a high prevalence of metabolic diseases, such as scurvy and rickets. The results of these and other pathological conditions reveal that there were very real links between the prevalence of diseases and the socio-economic status of the individuals under investigation. This is most striking in the patterns of various types of trauma, which graphically illustrate the hard lives led by working-class women. The investigations also provide insights into burial practices and funerary trade, and documentary research on named individuals from the vaults provides information on family histories which complements and informs the anthropological and archaeological analyses. Throughout the report an attempt is made to place the findings in the context of their social, economic and religious background, in order to provide an integrated analysis. The report concludes with contrasting reconstructions of two funerals at St. Martin's, one of a wealthy iron merchant and the other of a butcher's wife. 288p, 174 illus, 136 tabs, CD (Oxbow Books 2006)

Review Quotes

"Overall this is a fascinating volume that effectively bridges the dead with the living in 18th and 19th century England. It is an extremely valuable contribution to the literature on bioarchaeology, paleopathology and archaeology more generally... I highly recommend the volume to scholars interested in cemetery analysis, health in the Age of Industry, the history of funerary practices, and in this formative period of modern British history."

Patricia M. Lambert, Utah State University
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (2009)

"exemplary in its analysis and reporting:"

Paul Stamper
British Archaeology (2006)

"...this report is a valuable and important contribution to the growing literature on historic burial excavations...provides significant insights [...]is well written, heavily illustrated and attractively bound. Scholars interested in historic burial excavations will find it very useful."

Timothy B. Riordan
Society for Historical Archaeology Journal (2006)

Table of Contents

Overview: Excavations in St. Martin's churchyard and the archaeology of burial grounds in Birmingham (Michael Hodder)
Introduction (Simon Buteux)
The parish, the church and the churchyard (Josephine Adams)
The excavations (Simon Bateux and Richard Cherrington)
The people: Physical anthropology (Megan Brickley et al)
The impedimenta of death: Specialist reports (various)
The families: Documentary research (Josephine Adams)
St. Martin's in context: Life in the parish (Josephine Adams et al)
St. Martin's in context: The church and funerals (Josephine Adams et al)
Two funerals at St. Martin's (Josephine Adams)

Related Titles

• The Bull Ring Uncovered: Excavations at Edgbaston Street, Moor Street, Park Street and The Row, Birmingham City Centre, 1997-2001
  edited by Stephanie Rátkai

• The Archaeology of the West Midlands: A Framework for Research
  edited by Sarah Watt

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