Mundo mortus ses, sed Deo vivas? : an osteological study to assess the character of a monastery

The main aim of this study is to determine whether the monastery in Ny Varberg has been used as a hospital during its active years. The second aim has been to investigate weather the buried individuals at the monastery at Ny Varberg exclusively are deceased monks. Only individuals from the monastery's active years has been included in this study. A total of 16 inhumated individuals was analysed. Both men, women and children was shown to be present, as well as wide spread of children and adults. Diseases as osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis, sinustitis a possible presence cribra orbitalia as well as other diseases was found. The diseases found at Ny Varberg speaks for a normal distribution of skeletal alterations that we as humans, obtain during life and its endurances. The fact that I, among the buried individuals Ny Varberg, could confirm the presence of women and children implicates that monks hasn't been the only group of individuals buried here. A variation in the muscle patterns among men speaks for a possible occurance of two different groups of men, possible monks and laymen. Regarding the use of the monastery as a hospital, several things points us in a different direction. Signs of disease, mainly leprosy, tuberculosis and other contagious diseases, would be expected if the monastery was used as a hospital during it's active years. These diseases haven't been found. The monastery's orientation in the city and the presence of a S:t Jörgen-chapel located close by, contributes to the interpretation regarding the use of the monastery. The conclusion that the monastery probably hasn't been used as a hospital during it's active years has been drawn. The distributions regarding age, sex and nature of the pathologies, tells us that the monastery probably was used as a monastery. This doesn't exclude the fact that they may have taken mercy upon certain cases, provided care for the monastery's benefactors or have let their laymen and families rest on their burial grounds. It is in my opinion that further studying remains before we in the fullest can pronounce the use and the character of the monastery in Ny Varberg. Further study will be profitably in the study of the individuals buried at the monastery i Ny Varberg."Osteoporos och osteoartritis, då och nu", Finansierat av KK- stiftelsen och i samarbete med Sabine Ste