History & Archaeology Lab
A collaborative research and learning space dedicated to the study of medieval history and archaeology at St Andrews
Supported though an innovative partnership with archaeological scientists at the University of Turin (Italy) and University College Dublin (UCD), the lab is home base for several projects that integrate medieval history, archaeology, and bioarchaeology.
Initially housed in temporary space in the Department of Anatomy at the medical school, the lab has moved to its own dedicated space in the School of History.
The lab offers students and staff the opportunity to contribute to research on archaeological remains.
During our first year, a group of talented and dedicated MLitt and PhD students from History and Classics have volunteered their time in the lab documenting burials from St Leonards Hospital in North Shields. This year, we have six student volunteers continuing work on St Leonards and preparing for the arrival of our next assemblage in January.
Undergraduate students studying medieval history and archaeology at St Andrews — and especially Alison’s honours module on the History and Archaeology of Medieval Monasticism and our Summer Programme in on the History and Archaeology of Monastic Scotland — also have the opportunity to learn first-hand about how historians and bio-archaeologists are working together to open new windows on the medieval past.
All lab students assent to and sign our lab ethics statement.
2023-2024 Lab Team
Alison Beach (PI)
Rosa Boano (U Torino, Consulting Osteologist/Palaeopathologist)
Sally Mubarak, PhD Student, Classics (assistant lab director)
Michael Alexander (MAx) Dyer, PhD Student, Classics (assistant lab director)
Patsy Wardlaw, MLitt Medieval History (archival intern)
Elise Goodwin, MLitt Medieval History
Miranda Klank, MLitt Medieval History (Term 2 only)
William McKay-Smith, MLitt Medieval History
Esteban Merkt-Navedo, MLitt Medieval History
Enrico Occhini, MLitt Medieval History
Willa Stonecipher, MA Honours Medieval History
Contact Alison ([email protected]) for more information about how to get involved.
