Skeletons: Our Buried Bones

Twelve human skeletons from Bristol and London, each with a unique story to tell.

From a Bronze Age man with a spear-head lodged in his spine, to a decapitated Roman woman, and children with conditions linked to poor nutrition – the individuals reflect the our rich and varied past.

Each has its own tale to tell, and collectively they uncover 2,000 years of history, increasing our understanding of how people once lived, and providing insights into the health, diet, diseases and lifestyle of the deceased.

Alongside the exhibition, children can reveal some of the science behind the stories in the Bone Lab. Test your knowledge of bones; search for hidden clues to analyse skeletons yourself; and hear from experts of the excavation site, lab and museum. 

Exhibition tours

All tours are pay what you think and operate on a drop in basis.

• Wednesday 7 June, 5.15pm – 6.15pm
  Audio described tour for blind and visually impaired visitors. Led by Gail Boyle, senior curator of archaeology at Bristol Museums.

• Tuesday 11 July, 5.15pm – 6.15pm  
  A tour led by Emily Sargent, senior curator at the Wellcome Collection. BSL interpreted.

• Wednesday 9 August, 2pm – 3pm
  A family friendly tour of the exhibition for children aged 7+.

Groups and schools

Group visits of 10 or more people, including school groups, must be booked in advance and will be charged a £35 booking fee.*

School groups of 10 or over require a ratio of 1:6 adults to children (primary) and 1:15 (secondary). See our groups visits page for more information on getting here and accessibility.

*Alternatively, adult groups of 10 or more people can book a special package of £8pp for a curator-led tour and half hour study session with some objects from our archaeology collections.

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Skeletons: Our Buried Bones is a collaboration between Wellcome Collection and the Museum of London., touring to Glasgow, Bristol and Leeds over 2016 – 2018.

Local partners

Bristol Culture would like to thank the following for their assistance with content for the Bone Lab

• University of Bristol
• Avon Archaeology Ltd

Thanks also to:

• Medical Illustration at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust