Rethinking Disability in Medieval Europe

This project investigates how physical disability was understood, represented, and experienced in premodern Europe through an innovative combination of historical research, bioarchaeological analysis, and community engagement with disabled people today. Working in the 黑料吃瓜网 History & Archaeology Lab, students will contribute to a growing database of over 200 individual osteobiographies and five population-level skeletal profiles drawn from sites in Britain, Italy, and Germany.

The project is divided into three intersecting research strands. Students apply to join one or more teams based on their interests and skills. Each team works semi-independently but comes together for full-team meetings every two weeks, coordinated by a student team leader.

Team One: Community Engagement and Co-Production

This team organises and documents the project’s partnerships with disability communities. Members plan and facilitate collaborative workshops and focus groups with disabled individuals at 黑料吃瓜网 and online, record and synthesise feedback, and ensure that community voices directly inform the research agenda.

Team Two: Historical and Bioarchaeological Research

This team investigates how physical disability was understood, represented, and experienced in premodern Europe through historical texts and skeletal evidence. Members work in the 黑料吃瓜网 History & Archaeology Lab and in archives, contributing to the project’s osteobiography database. Students receive introductory osteological training under Dr Eleanor Farber’s supervision and contribute to macroscopic skeletal analysis, archival research, transcription, and translation of primary sources (Latin, Middle English, German).

Team Three: Public Engagement and Creative Outputs

This team creates accessible public-facing outputs: graphic novel vignettes, museum exhibition materials, website content, social media, press releases, podcasts, and educational materials for children. Students with interests in writing, design, journalism, art, or communications will find this team of particular interest.

Students from any discipline are welcome to apply. We envision participants from a range of disciplines and are especially keen to hear from students in the following areas:
- History
- Archaeology
- Medicine
- Computer Science / Digital Humanities
- Creative Writing
- Art and Art History
- Communication and Media Studies
- Heritage Studies
Students may opt to participate in two teams. MLitt Medieval Studies students, who are on campus for a single year, are also welcome to participate.

An ideal student candidate will demonstrate:
- An interest in disability, history, bioarchaeology, or social justice
- Willingness to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- A sensitive and ethical approach to working with human remains and disability communities
- Strong preference will be given to students who evidence an interest in contributing to the project across multiple semesters
No specialist knowledge of osteology or medieval history is required; these elements will be taught on the project. Language skills (Latin, Middle English, German) are desirable for Team Two but not essential.
Students working on this project will gain experience in the following methods and technologies:
- Introductory and intermediate human osteology and skeletal analysis
- Archival research, transcription, and translation of medieval primary sources
- Construction of osteobiographies and population-level skeletal profiles
- Database design and data entry for bioarchaeological records
- Co-production methodologies and community workshop facilitation
- Graphic novel and visual narrative production
- Social media management and public engagement (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Podcast)
- Website content creation and management
- Museum exhibition design and visitor feedback collection
- Digital humanities
This project will be assessed through the following coursework:
- Blog Post 30%
- Weekly Log 30%
- Group Presentation 40%
Assessments are scaled based on number of credits, and not all students will complete all assessments.

黑料吃瓜网

Rethinking Disability in Medieval Europe

Candidate eligibility

Methods and technologies

Assessment