History in Our Bones: Uncovering Stories of Disability Through Time
Through Pictish case studies featured in the History in Our Bones exhibition at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum, this lecture introduces Visible Disabilities in Premodern Europe, a project combining skeletal evidence, historical sources, biomechanics, and creative practice to investigate disability, mobility, assistive technologies, and care.
Together, these approaches restore disabled people as participants in the social worlds of the past.
This lecture is delivered in partnership with the Scottish History Society.
About the Speaker
Alison I. Beach is Professor of Medieval History at the University of St Andrews, where she directs the Centre for Archaeology, Technology, & History.
She is Co-Investigator on Visible Disabilities in Premodern Europe and Project Lead for the AHRC-funded project Word of Mouth: Embodied Stories of Premodern Women at Work. Bringing together history, archaeology, and bioarchaeology, Word of Mouth recovers the lives, work, and embodied experiences of medieval religious women across Europe.
Format
This will be a hybrid event which will take place both in Augustine United Church and live-streamed online, with the recording uploaded to our YouTube channel and Spotify account shortly after the lecture.
Doors open at 5:45pm. The main lecture will be preceded by a short presentation by early career researcher Dr Eleanor (Nora) Farber entitled Introducing ‘Word of Mouth’: Embodied Stories of Premodern Women at Work.
The lecture will be followed by a Q&A, for which Professor Beach and Dr Farber will be joined by their colleague Dr Tobias Houlton, Director of Houlton Forensic Imaging & Digital Consultancy.
In-person attendees are also welcome to stay for a free drinks reception from approximately 7pm where you can discuss the lecture and other interests with the speakers, Society Fellows and other attendees.
Content Warning
This lecture (and the preceding presentation) will include images of archaeological human skeletal remains and discusses disability, physical impairment, and death in archaeological contexts.
While all material is presented respectfully and for educational purposes, some attendees may find this content distressing.
(The views and opinions expressed at this event are solely those of the event organisers. They do not necessarily reflect the policies, positions, or views of Augustine United Church.)
Please note that this event is not being coordinated by Dig It!. While Dig It! takes every opportunity to ensure that this information is accurate, we advise that you contact the event organiser before attending the event to avoid disappointment. As “39% of transport emissions come from cars” according to Net Zero Nation, Dig It! also encourages you to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport to arrive at this event if possible.
Image: Facial estimates of LL11, a Pictish woman, and LL3, a Pictish man, both from Lundin Links, Fife (© Craniofacial identification and digital imaging specialist Dr Tobias Houlton)
Accessibility Information
The main entrance to the church is up four steps with a handrail.
A standard accessible toilet is available on the ground floor and lower level (accessible via lift).
Assistance dogs are welcome inside the venue.
Please note, the hearing loop facility is unavailable. The venue is working on a replacement and hope to have it up and running soon. We apologise for any inconvenience.
If attending via Zoom, captions are included.
If you require step-free access or any other assistance to enjoy the event as an online or in-person attendee, please let us know by answering the accessibility question at booking.
If there are any other ways we can make this event more accessible for you (as an online or an in-person attendee), please give us details at the booking stage. Thank you.
You can find further information on the venue’s accessibility on the Augustine United Church website.
Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (& ONLINE)
Thursday 15 October 2026 @ 6:00pm - Thursday 15 October 2026 @ 7:00pm
Free Entry
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