Remains of 14 individual victims of Black 47

Individual 5A11

Despite being in good overall condition, the skeleton displayed several health issues. Evidence of childhood stress was observed in healed marks on the left eye socket. They had a healed rib fracture from their younger years, likely caused by a direct impact. Fortunately, their shoulder bones protected them from serious harm. At the time of death, they had a bacterial infection in their right hip, causing weakness and muscle wasting in their right leg. Additionally, they suffered from joint problems, unrelated to the infection, involving detached cartilage in their right shin and left foot bone due to intense activity.

Individual 5A16

A robust man aged 25-30, towering at approximately 1.80 meters. His bones showed signs of hard work, with extra growth where muscles attached. He had some damage in his wrist and arm bones, probably from a joint problem called osteochondritis dissecans. He also had mild arthritis in his spine, probably from his active lifestyle. A hypoplastic line on the upper left canine (see photo 15) indicates a stress episode that disrupted enamel development around 2.5 years old. This stress likely occurred around 1820-1825, a period during which Ireland was already experiencing focused episodes of famine.

Individual 5A10 

The bone maturation suggests an age range of 14 to 16 years. Although the coxal bone elements are fused, the sex remains undetermined. They were likely around 1.64 to 1.67 meters tall. Their muscles, especially in the knees and shoulders, were well-developed and balanced. Also, there’s a sign on the leg bone that suggests they often squatted sideways.

Individual 5A12 

Despite their young age, they had tartar on their teeth. They also had a slight bone condition and signs of past eye socket issues. Their left arm was shorter and thinner than their right, suggesting a possible health problem, but there were no visible problems. They have one less rib pair than usual, but it doesn’t affect their life. Their spine has a small difference too, but it doesn’t cause any issues either.

Individual 5A17

This man favored using his right arm, likely due to how his tendons were shaped over time. He had advanced joint damage in his right forearm and left foot, possibly from wear and tear. His teeth weren’t in great shape; there was tartar on them, and some were worn down to the dentin. He had lost some molars, and there was an infection where one used to be. There’s evidence he may have smoked a pipe, a common way to use tobacco from the 1600s to the early 1900s. This matches with the historical context of the Irish community, known for pipe smoking, found in the Griffintown archaeological sites.

Individual 5A7

This burial, labeled as 5A7, was found positioned at the foot of the other burials and aligned from east to west. It belongs to a child estimated to be between 2.5 and 5 years old, determined by examining the development of their remaining teeth. The fusion state of certain bone parts and the length of the long bones match this estimated dental age. During a basic check of the bones, no health issues were spotted, except for some tartar on the upper right baby molar.

Individual 5A4

Individual couldn’t have their sex determined due to an incomplete hip bone. Some features suggest a female shape, like a wide ischial notch and a long auricular groove, but these can sometimes occur in males too. The sacro-pelvic iliac surface indicates an age over 20, but we can’t be precise. There are slight arthritis signs on various joint surfaces, such as bony growths. They lost their lower right second molar before death, with the healing process started. Most teeth fell out after death, except two, which show moderate wear and tartar buildup. These issues usually happen in older individuals but can occur earlier depending on lifestyle. There’s also a smooth area on the right shin bone’s joint surface, likely from a posture involving a lot of ankle bending