Archaeologists in Germany have uncovered evidence of compassionate care for individuals with disabilities during the late Middle Ages, based on skeletal remains from a medieval cemetery in Eichstätt, Bavaria. The findings, from a site dating to the 14th to 15th centuries, include skeletons with conditions such as scoliosis, limb deformities, and healed fractures, suggesting these individuals were supported by their communities despite their physical limitations.
The study, led by the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, examined over 200 burials. Among them were remains of individuals with conditions like scoliosis and congenital limb deformities. One notable case involved a person with a congenital disorder affecting limb development, whose skeleton showed signs of a long life, indicating sustained care. Another individual with a severe leg injury had healed bones, suggesting medical attention and support. The team used techniques such as 3D modelling to analyse traumatic injuries and assess the extent of care provided.
These discoveries point to a society that valued its disabled members, challenging assumptions about medieval attitudes towards physical differences. The cemetery, likely linked to a hospital or charitable institution, contained artefacts such as pottery and personal items, hinting at social integration. A 2024 study by Ileana Micarelli, Mary Anne Tafuri, and Lorna Tilley on medieval European cemeteries notes that skeletal evidence of disabilities, including eight cases among 574 burials, supports the presence of community care, often facilitated by religious or civic institutions, providing broader context for the Eichstätt findings.
The Eichstätt discoveries provide evidence of medieval social practices, showing compassion in certain communities. Ongoing analysis aims to reveal more about diet, health, and daily life, with further excavations planned to uncover additional insights into medieval Bavaria.
- Ancient Origins, “Skeletons Show Compassionate Care for the Disabled in the Late Middle Ages,” 15 May 2025.
- The Jerusalem Post, “Archaeological discovery sheds light on treatment of people with disabilities in Middle Ages,” 16 May 2025.
- Micarelli, I., Tafuri, M. A., & Tilley, L., “Disability and care in Western Europe during Medieval times: A bioarchaeological perspective,” International Journal of Paleopathology, February 2024.
