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Suppressed By Disease - A paleopathological study of leprosy from St. Jörgen in medieval Malmö

Viktorsson, Sara LU (2026) ARKM36 20261
Department of Archaeology and Ancient History
Abstract
The aim of this thesis was to determine if and to what extent leprosy and syphilis was present at the graveyard of St:Jörgen in medieval Malmö, as well as trying to understand if it was used as a leprosy hospital. A total of 42 individuals were studied in this thesis. This thesis was based on previous pathological comments regarding changes to the skeleton that could have been interpreted as either leprosy or syphilis. A total of 4 individuals were identified with leprosy, three by this study and one by earlier studies. No syphilis was found, even though that is open for discussion. The thesis concluded that even though a low number of individuals were identified with leprosy, it was still likely that St:Jörgen started out as a leprosy... (More)
The aim of this thesis was to determine if and to what extent leprosy and syphilis was present at the graveyard of St:Jörgen in medieval Malmö, as well as trying to understand if it was used as a leprosy hospital. A total of 42 individuals were studied in this thesis. This thesis was based on previous pathological comments regarding changes to the skeleton that could have been interpreted as either leprosy or syphilis. A total of 4 individuals were identified with leprosy, three by this study and one by earlier studies. No syphilis was found, even though that is open for discussion. The thesis concluded that even though a low number of individuals were identified with leprosy, it was still likely that St:Jörgen started out as a leprosy hospital and later evolved to a normal parish church when the city expanded. This thisis also concluded that even though no clear signs of syphilis was found, there is a possibility individuals infected with syphilis could have been buried there still. The graveyard seems to close around the same time as syphilis enters Sweden. Taking the osteological paradox into consideration, this means that even though no signs of the disease are visible, it is not possible to conclude that it does not exist.
Keywords: (Less)
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author
Viktorsson, Sara LU
supervisor
organization
course
ARKM36 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
leprosy, St:Jörgen, leprosy hospital, Leprosorium, Osteology, Medieval Malmö, Paleopathology, Middle ages, Syphilis, Spetälska, Hansen's disease, St.George
language
English
id
9246883
date added to LUP
2026-07-14 09:44:13
date last changed
2026-07-14 09:44:13
@misc{9246883,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this thesis was to determine if and to what extent leprosy and syphilis was present at the graveyard of St:Jörgen in medieval Malmö, as well as trying to understand if it was used as a leprosy hospital. A total of 42 individuals were studied in this thesis. This thesis was based on previous pathological comments regarding changes to the skeleton that could have been interpreted as either leprosy or syphilis. A total of 4 individuals were identified with leprosy, three by this study and one by earlier studies. No syphilis was found, even though that is open for discussion. The thesis concluded that even though a low number of individuals were identified with leprosy, it was still likely that St:Jörgen started out as a leprosy hospital and later evolved to a normal parish church when the city expanded. This thisis also concluded that even though no clear signs of syphilis was found, there is a possibility individuals infected with syphilis could have been buried there still. The graveyard seems to close around the same time as syphilis enters Sweden. Taking the osteological paradox into consideration, this means that even though no signs of the disease are visible, it is not possible to conclude that it does not exist.
Keywords:}},
  author       = {{Viktorsson, Sara}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Suppressed By Disease - A paleopathological study of leprosy from St. Jörgen in medieval Malmö}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}