A digital library of Historic British Mortuary Science & Investigation outlining the first history of pre-20th century burial, scientific history and archaeology.
This open access library aims to assist church stakeholders, archaeologists, and researchers. It provides heritage advocates and policymakers much-needed evidence to inform their strategies and responses at local and national levels.
Our ongoing linguistic analyses of library entries is revealing what has historically been considered ‘respectful treatment’ of the dead, contextualising and guiding how we ‘respectfully’ conduct and record such disturbances today.
With this new knowledge, we can anchor contemporary ethical, procedural, and religious debates in their historic contexts; advance histories of science, medicine, religion, law and death; and guide practices and policies from academic, Church, and heritage sectors as custodians of our inherited dead.
