The biology of 16th-century sailors revealed through the analysis of their skeletal remains

The analysis of centuries-old human skeletal remains could deepen today's understanding of how bone chemistry changes with age.

The analysis of human skeletal remains from the Mary Rose flagship, which sank in 1545, has provided new insights into how bone chemistry changes with age.

The findings, published in the Plos One journal, also suggest that being right-handed may have affected the bone structure of the crew members.

The Tudor vessel, which was part of Henry VIII’s navy, sank between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight during an engagement with French ships in the Battle of the Solent.

When it was excavated in the late 20th century, the ship’s artefacts and the crew’s skeletons were well-preserved.

This has allowed researchers to carry out extensive studies into the belongings, appearance, and health of the sailors.

The new study by Dr Sheona Shankland and colleagues at Lancaster University focused on the biology of 12 men aged 13 to 40 who went down with the ship.

They used a non-destructive laser technique called Raman spectroscopy to analyse the chemistry of the crew members’ collarbones (clavicles).

The analysis revealed that as the sailors aged, the mineral content in their bones increased, while protein content decreased, albeit to a lesser degree.

These age-related changes were also found to be more pronounced in the right collarbone than in the left.

Assuming a preference for right-handed people among the crew, the findings indicate that handedness may have affected the make-up of the clavicle, perhaps through putting more strain on their right side as they carried out duties on board.

Dr Shankland, of Lancaster University’s Department of Biomedical Science, said: “Having grown up fascinated by the Mary Rose, it has been amazing to have the opportunity to work with these remains.

“The preservation of the bones and the non-destructive nature of the technique allows us to learn more about the lives of these sailors, but also furthers our understanding of the human skeleton, relevant to the modern world.”

Professor Adam Taylor, from Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology, added: “This study sheds new light on what we know about the clavicle and its mineralisation.

“The bone plays a critical role in attaching your upper limb to the body and is one of the most commonly fractured bones.”

The new research explored how the chemistry of bone might change in response to physical activity and ageing, so a person’s bone chemistry may hold clues about their lifestyle.

In this case, the researchers noted that more research on the Mary Rose clavicles will be needed to better understand these findings.