Peopling Portland’s Past: A paleodemographic, osteological and funerary investigation of the burial population excavated from the site of St. Andrew’s Church, Portland, UK.

Abstract

The current project investigated the osteology, funerary archaeology and demography of the multi period site of Portland St. Andrew’s Church, Dorset, UK. The osteology and archaeology of the site were united through a comprehensive analysis of human skeletal remains and the creation of a complete burial plan. Demographical data concluded typical findings regarding biological sex and age-at- death categories, minimal trauma with joint disease the most common pathological condition in this burial population. No associations were made regarding age-at- death, biological sex, or pathological conditions in relation to spatial organization of burials at the site. Comparison to other post-medieval sites concluded no differences regarding geographical location in relation to health, nutrition, and disease. This study has complimented previous research by creating a wholesome image of the equally important archaeology and osteology of the site, thus revealing further of the people of Portland’s past.