No, this is not a horror novel about 16th century necromancy, but the third part of a trilogy of books on osteo-archeology and how it informs historical analysis. The first two Ancestors and Buried explored pre-historic and early historic death practices. Alice Roberts is, of course known as an extremely popular TV presenter. She brings much of her own experience in osteo-archeology and research of others to bear in these books. Plus her no none sense clear presentation style, that is simultaneously informative and approachable.
The first book Ancestors was a truly brilliant and enlightening read, the follow up Buried covered very similar territory and did feel a tad repetitive. Crypt moves on to the medieval period and beyond, but this time she explores the influence of contemporary improvements in DNA and genome research. It has now reached the point where not only can you discover the sex of incomplete skeletons, but where they were originally from,what food they ate, and what disease they may have died from. Its application isn't just useful on examining an individual case, it now provides us with information about the history of a disease, when it first appeared, has it changed, grown weaker or stronger over the centuries.
So there are chapters on the bubonic plague, which it turns out may have been with us since at least the Bronze Age. Pinning down a time when it moved from being a relatively minor disease, and through a genetic change became a fatal epidemic. Similar traces can be found for the origins of venereal diseases. Its always been assumed Columbus and his crew brought it back from the New World. But there has been no proof of that other than their was a huge outbreak post his return. So far genetic analysis has not proved it one way or the other, either here in the West or in the Americas. But one day they will pin even that down.
This is a really fascinating read, from an excellent writer.
CARROT REVIEW - 6/8
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