Think an exhibition of medical history sounds pretty dry-as-dust? Think again.
The Wellcome Collection is currently hosting an exhibition of skeletons from London’s past. Gruesome and compelling.
There are Romans, nuns, prostitutes. Some have names, others are forever anonymous.
From excavations in Southwark we find out that though the medieval monastic rule laid great stress on fasting and abstinence, many of the skeletons found in the monastery graveyard show signs of problems connected with obesity. A little further down the road at the Cross Bones cemetery, skeletons show signs of rickets - a disease associated with poverty - as well as syphilis.
Each skeleton comes with its forensic history. It really is quite amazing just how much we know about some of these ex-citizens of London - just from those dry bones. Though you might just go to gawp at a few skeletons, you’ll learn a lot about forensic science - and about the human body.
The exhibition also fascinates me because it gives you an inkling of just how many bodies there are buried under our London streets. The skeletons in this show all come from excavations by the Museum of London - usually where a new building’s foundations disturbed an old graveyard.
You can practically imagine the bones crunching under your feet as you walk through the city. If that doesn’t give you a macabre thrill, nothing will.
Where: The Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road (King’s Cross or Euston tube)
When: till 28 September - Tues-Sat 10-18 (till 22 h on Thursday), 11-18 Sunday
How much: free
Photo credit - Dawn Endico on flickr
译文:
串联骨头，串联骨头，串联干骨头
参观病学历史展览的想法听起来相当的枯燥？再思考一下。
韦尔科姆收藏品馆正在最近举办伦敦的前人骨骼展览。那骨骼标本不仅恐怖且扣人心弦。
展览的骨骼标本有罗马人，有修女，还有娼妓。有些有名字，有些则永远也不知其姓。
从南华克区的挖掘中，我们发现虽然中世纪的修道院院规对肥胖与禁欲着重强调，在修道院墓地中发现的许多骨骼显示出与肥胖有关的问题的迹象。沿十字骨头墓地这条路往前一点，骨骼则显示佝偻病的迹象——与贫穷有关的疾病——以及梅毒。
每一个骨骼都有它的法庭历史。真的令人十分惊讶地是，我们知道多少关于一些伦敦前居住者的事情——仅从那些干枯的骨头中。虽然你可能只是目瞪口呆地望着一些骨骼，你将会学到许多法庭科学知识——以及人体知识。
同时，此展览之所以强烈地吸引我是因为它会给你一个模糊的想法，即，到底有多少尸体被埋在伦敦街下。展览中的骨骼全都来自伦敦博物馆的挖掘——通常，新建筑的基地建设都会打扰到古老坟墓。
当穿过这个城市时，你几乎可以想象那些骨头在你的脚下嘎吱嘎吱作响。如果没有给带来阵阵寒颤，那么你会什么事都不惧怕了。
地点: The Wellcome Collection, 尤斯顿璐183 号 (King’s Cross or Euston tube)
时间：截止日期10月 28 号 ——星期二至星期六展览10-18小时（星期三22小时) 星期日11-18 小时
价钱: 免费
图片 - Dawn Endico on flickr