Archaeologists find skeletons at Binnengasthuis premises

Excavation work in the courtyard at the construction site for the new University Library has been completed. During the dig, the municipality of Amsterdam's Knowledge Centre for Monuments and Archaeology (MenA) conducted extensive archaeological research and skeletal human remains were found. Physical anthropology, a sub-discipline of Archaeology, is the study of the human skeleton in an archaeological context. Physical anthropologist Maja d'Hollosy (UvA) is examining the skeletal remains found at the construction site. Skeletons from 1600. In the past, cemeteries were frequently located near hospitals. The graveyard found at the Binnengasthuis premises predates the Binnengasthuis itself, meaning it was in use around 1600, during the time of the convent and/or the plague house. Maja d'Hollosy's research can offer insight into how people lived at that time, both individually and at the communal level. It is possible to determine whether the people did heavy labour and whether they had a healthy lifestyle or were already suffering from health problems at a young age. Each skeleton will be examined to identify the age, height and gender of the person, as well as any signs of disease or accidents. The manner in which the people were buried also provides insight into the context. The images below are from Monuments and Archeology, Municipality of Amsterdam. Graves and 'knekelkuilen'