Survival Comparative of a Medieval Hospital and Lay Cemeteries

This study looked at the survival demographics between individuals associated with hospitals and cemeteries during the medieval period in Chichester, Gloucester, and Pontefract, England. Lay and hospital communities had similar and different influences on the outcome of people’s health. Indicators of stress, linear enamel hypoplasia and cribra orbitalia, were analysed to determine the levels of health between individuals associated with St. James and St. Mary Magdalene Hospital (n=90) and Box Lane and Blackfriars lay cemeteries (n=90). The results suggested there was not a significant difference between individuals associated with both the hospital and lay cemeteries age-at-death (p=.67) and stress indicators (adults p=.56, non-adults p=.26). Although, the survival curves suggested individuals associated with the hospital had a higher chance of survival before the age of 30 than individuals from the lay cemeteries.