Paper short abstract:

The paper will discuss the palaeopathological findings from 427 juveniles recovered from the Medieval burial ground at Ballyhanna, Co. Donegal. The data will be scrutinised for information about the health of these individuals and will be compared to that from contemporary Medieval populations.

Paper long abstract:

Excavations at the Medieval cemetery of Ballyhanna, Co. Donegal, Ireland, uncovered the skeletons of some 1300 individuals, 427 of which were those of juveniles. Children of all ages were present from premature babies to older teenagers and the assemblage represents one of the largest collections of juvenile remains to have been discovered in a consecrated burial ground in Ireland. Numerous palaeopathological lesions were identified, including developmental defects, infections and trauma as well as signs of malnutrition and physiological stress during childhood in the form of cribra orbitalia, enamel hypoplasia, stunted growth and possible evidence for scurvy and rickets. Two adults displayed evidence for the rare developmental condition multiple osteochondromas which would have first manifested during young childhood. The information will be scrutinised to see what insights can be gained concerning the health and day-to-day existence of these individuals. An attempt will be made to investigate the potential nature of care invested in very ill children. The findings will also be compared to those derived from contemporary Medieval populations.