Scandinavian settlers 'brought leprosy to Britain' suggests study of 1,500-year-old skeleton

Scandinavian settlers 'brought leprosy to Britain' suggests study of 1,500-year-old skeleton

20:00, 13 May 2015
By Ben Mitchell

Modern scientific techniques have confirmed the male skeleton excavated in Essex in the 1950s had leprosy and probably came from southern Scandinavia


Leprosy may have spread to Britain from Scandinavia, according to a study of a 1,500-year-old skeleton.

Archaeologists from the University of Southampton have been involved in examining the male skeleton which was excavated at Great Chesterford in Essex during the 1950s.

The bones of the man, probably in his 20s, show changes consistent with leprosy, such as narrowing of the toe bones and damage to the joints, suggesting a very early British case.

Modern scientific techniques applied by the researchers for the study published in PLOS ONE have now confirmed the man did suffer from the disease and that he may have come from southern Scandinavia.

More:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/scandinavian-settlers-brought-leprosy-britain-5691828