Resurrection Men
By: Isaiah and Matt
Resurrection Men
Resurrection men were people that dug up dead bodies. This was common in the 19th century. People did this to sell body parts. When people did this it was mostly to people that were rich. They stole artifacts, personal items, etc.. These people did it for money. At the time a lot of doctors were looking for body parts and were willing to pay people to bring them some.
The London Hospital
It was founded in 1740. Near the hospital was a graveyard where they buried deceased people. After years of the Hospital being up scientists found dead bodies that has cuts through their bones. Many of the bodies had consistent cuts through the vertebrae to divide the bodies into three portions: the head, torso, and the lower body. Some of the bodies weren't even human, but animals, like dogs, cows, and even monkeys.
Left over bones
Skull fragments or human bones with iron pins in them would be kept as "specimens". A skull fragment was found in a London Hospital cemetery. The fragment was clearly used by medical students to practice trephining.
A trephine was a hole saw used in surgery to remove a circle of tissue or bone.
Citations
"Haunt of the Resurrection Men - Archaeology Magazine." Haunt of the Resurrection Men - Archaeology Magazine. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. http://www.archaeology.org/issues/89-1305/features/737-royal-london-hospital-burials#art_page4.
"Haunt of the Resurrection Men - Archaeology Magazine." Haunt of the Resurrection Men - Archaeology Magazine. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. <http://www.archaeology.org/issues/89-1305/features/737-royal-london-hospital-burials#art_page4>.