Biological Anthropology Research Centre (BARC)

The BARC Collections

The collections of human remains curated by the BARC are large, varied, and cover a considerable time span from the Neolithic to the 19^th century. It is the largest collection of human skeletal remains used for teaching in the UK. Most of our collections come from England, and were excavated by different field units or research projects as a result of the planning process.

You can find further details below.

Prehistoric

Wetwang Slack, East Yorkshire (Bronze Age and Iron Age, c.450 individuals)*

• Barton-under-Needwood (Bronze Age cremations)

* On loan from the Hull and East Riding Museum

Early Medieval

• Raunds, Northamptonshire (10th to 11th centuries, 357 individuals)
• Eccles, Kent (7th century and later, 171 individuals)
• Sancton, East Yorkshire (5th to 6th centuries, 23 cremations)*
• Crayke, North Yorkshire (9th to 10th centuries, 21 individuals)

* On loan from the Hull and East Riding Museum

Medieval

St. James and St. Mary Magdalene, Chichester, West Sussex (leprosarium and alms house, early 12^th to 17^th century, 374 individuals)***

• St. Giles, Brough, North Yorkshire (rural hospital, 92 individuals)
• Blackfriars, Gloucester (Dominican Friary, 1246 to 1539 AD, 127 individuals)**
• Hereford Cathedral (lay cemetery including, two large plague pits, Late Saxon to Medieval, c.1200 individuals)
• Box Lane, Pontefract (lay cemetery, 88 individuals)
• Towton (mass grave related to the Battle of Towton, 1461 AD, 47 individuals)

** On loan from Gloucester City Council Heritage and Museums Service
*** On loan from The Novium (formerly Chichester District Museum)

Post Medieval

New Bunhill Fields, Southwark, London (urban 19^th century, 514 individuals)****

• St Peter's Wolverhampton (urban, 19^th century, 150 individuals)
• Hickleton, South Yorkshire (rural, medieval and post medieval, 28 individuals)
• Helmsley, North Yorkshire (rural Quaker cemetery, 19^th century, 7 individuals)
• Tanyard, Bromyard, Herefordshire (urban, Quaker cemetery early 18^th century, 11 individuals)
• Villiers Street, Sunderland (urban, 19th century, 364 individuals)†

**** On loan from MOLA

† This collection currently cannot be accessed for research

International collections

• Niah Caves, Sarawak, Malaysia (Neolithic, 56 individuals)

In addition, small numbers of skeletons or skeletal elements from many different archaeological sites are curated by the BARC. Most of these have interesting pathological conditions, and are used extensively in our teaching and research.

The skeletal collections held by the BARC are continuously added to with populations coming to the laboratory for research or for analysis on a contractual basis, many of which are returned to museums and archaeological contractors following analysis.

Access for researchers

The Biological Anthropology Research Centre (BARC) curates the second largest collection of human skeletal remains in a University in the UK. Researchers at PhD level and above are welcome to apply to access our skeletal collection. Please note that MSc students from other institutions will not be granted access to our skeletal collection. They are welcome, however, to consult our paper archive.

Many of our collections are currently on loan from other holding institutions and museums, and researchers should be aware that details of their research will be passed on to these institutions. In the case of destructive sampling, these institutions may also review applications.

Collections Access Form

All applicants should read the information regarding access to the BARC collections, and in particular should ensure their application meets the criteria outlined in the document.

External students require a letter of support from their supervisor, to be submitted at the same time as the application form.

Please fill out the application form below and email to Jo Buckberry [email protected]. If you have any questions or require any further details please contact Jo Buckberry.

 Bench Fees

We charge bench fees to external researchers accessing our collections. For visiting PhD students these are set at:

• £20 per day
• £60 per week
• £200 per month

For funded research projects:

• £40 a day
• £120 a week
• £400 a month

Collaborative projects with the BARC may not attract bench fees.

Access for visiting researchers is 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We are closed all UK Bank Holidays, between Christmas and New Year and for 3 working days over Easter, in line with University customary holidays.

Internal students are required to complete an Internal Access Form (available over canvas). Internal students do not incur bench fees.

Postgraduate courses

MSc in Human Osteology and Palaeopathology

MA in Archaeology and Identity