Disability in medieval Poulton (Cheshire): A case of hand amputation

Valoriani, S ORCID: 0000-0001-8070-9682, King, M ORCID: 0000-0003-1309-5857 and Cootes, K (2025) Disability in medieval Poulton (Cheshire): A case of hand amputation. International Journal of Paleopathology, 51. pp. 82-85. ISSN 1879-9817

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Abstract

Objective: Amputations are rarely identified in the British archaeological record from the Middle Ages, with survival following hand removal particularly uncommon. This study presents a case of a healed left-hand amputation from the medieval cemetery at Poulton (Cheshire). Materials: The study focuses on Skeleton 861, recovered from the Poulton Chapel burial ground, part of a broader assemblage of over 800 individuals dated to the 13th–16th centuries CE. Methods: Standard osteological techniques were used to establish the biological profile, while radiographic imaging and macroscopic analysis assessed healing and pathological conditions. Directional asymmetry was also calculated. Results: The left hand was absent, with the distal radius and ulna showing remodelling, marginal osteophyte growth, and a healed amputation surface. No cut marks or skeletal atrophy were observed. Directional asymmetry and robust entheses suggest continued use of the limb post-amputation. Differential diagnoses were excluded on morphological and contextual grounds. Conclusions: Skeleton 861 demonstrates long-term survival and functional adaptation following amputation. The evidence supports loss of the hand and recovery within a rural medieval community. Significance: This case contributes to the small body of evidence for medieval amputations in Britain, providing an example of survival and long-term adaptation to severe trauma and the loss of an upper limb within a premodern agrarian community. Limitations: The cause of amputation could not be determined, and absence of prosthetic evidence limits interpretation of post-amputation adaptations. Suggestions for further research: Future work could compare similar cases across Britain to evaluate regional variation in care practices and examine potential use of prostheses or occupational adaptations.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1601 Anthropology; 2101 Archaeology; 4301 Archaeology; 4401 Anthropology
Subjects:	C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date of acceptance:	30 October 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	11 November 2025
Date Deposited:	11 Nov 2025 09:47
Last Modified:	11 Nov 2025 10:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.10.003
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27541

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