Learn: What Can the Bones Tell Us?

Saturday 18th October

10am – 3pm

This is a one-day workshop with Senior Archaeologist for the Magna Project, Rachel Frame, and Dr Andrew Newton, who is an NHS Emergency Medicine Consultant and member of the Roman Military Research Society. Combining research from the excavations at Magna Fort, clinical experience of a lifetime of medical practice (including managing battle-field trauma whilst on active service) with a fascination for the history of medicine, this workshop allows you to understand more about what bones can tell us about the health of individuals living on Hadrian’s Wall.

In this workshop, you can expect a lecture from Rachel about the story of the human remains at Magna Fort, what we know about these ancient people, and have an introduction to the site. Dr Andrew Newton will then lead a session taking an in-depth look at how we age and sex a skeleton, looking for trauma injuries and mechanisms, evidence of disease and what we can get from DNA. There will be an informal Q&A with both Andrew and Rachel at the end, with the 2024 Magna excavation report to take home.

There will be complementary hot drinks throughout the day.

You are welcome to bring your own packed lunch, or purchase lunch in our café. The Roman Army Museum will be open from 9:30am – 5:30pm so please do take the time to explore.