Mysterious skeleton revealed to be that of unusual lady anchoress of York Barbican

[Still Waters]

The rare and unusual life of an anchoress, a woman who devoted her life to prayer while living in seclusion, has been unearthed by the University of Sheffield and Oxford Archaeology, thanks to a skeletal collection now held at the University.

Analysis of the collection, which includes a staggering 667 complete skeletons dated to the Roman, Medieval, and Civil War era, has revealed one in particular that is likely Lady Isabel German, an important anchoress—or type of religious hermit—who is documented to have lived at All Saints Church in Fishergate, York, during the 15th century.

Skeleton SK3870 was discovered in 2007 during excavations at what was once All Saints Church on the site of the famous York Barbican. Not found in the cemetery alongside the others skeletons in the collection, this medieval woman was buried in a tightly crouched position within the apse of the church foundations, a small room located behind the altar.

https://phys.org/news/2023-02-mysterious-skeleton-revealed-unusual-lady.html

[+Desertrat56]

How can a hermit or hermitess be important?   What do they contribute to society?

[Piney]

18 minutes ago, Desertrat56 said:

How can a hermit or hermitess be important?   What do they contribute to society?

Suffering for God was suppose to be a good thing and if you had a disease you had preference.......... an idea which is deranged as hell. 

The body have severe ST syphilis damage. She was probably promiscuous and the disease  "God's punishment". So becoming a hermit would restore you to grace.

 

[SHaYap]

7 hours ago, Piney said:

She was probably promiscuous and the disease  "God's punishment".

Maybe it was just her good husband that was the promiscuous fornicator... 

~

[+Grim Reaper 6]

2 hours ago, SHaYap said:

Maybe it was just her good husband that was the promiscuous fornicator... 

~

That's very possible, but we will never know for certain but i suspect your right. In those days men were most promiscuous. Because, nothing would be done to them if they were caught, however, women on the other hand could be executed if caught being unfaithful, so I think few women were willing to be Adulteress.

JIMHO