ABSTRACT
Large numbers of burials were expected before the excavations began. In order to maximise this unique opportunity the team included a specialist in the study of archaeological human remains, Sarah King. This ensured that skilled observations could be made on fragile materials or materials that could not be lifted and certainly contributed to the comprehensiveness of the skeletal records. During the 1992-93 excavations of Glasgow Cathedral a total of 84 burials were recorded, five of which were left in situ due to poor preservation or excavation limitations. The preservation of a skeleton was determined by the quality of surviving bone and the completeness of remains. Descriptions of preservation were made during excavation and under laboratory conditions. Age estimations based on dental attrition were appropriate for most of the Glasgow Cathedral adult skeletal sample as the method used was developed on British populations from the Neolithic to medieval times.
