A SKELETON that was unearthed during excavations at Worcester's Commandery has provided clues to the man's life - he suffered from bad breath.

Archaeologists uncovered two skeletons during excavations for two lift shafts in January and have since discovered one of them belonged to a middle-aged man.

It is the first time human remains have been found at the Civil War centre, in Sidbury, which was once a monastic hospital that treated the sick and poor.

Experts, who have carried out extensive tests on the bones of only one skeleton to date, have discovered the man was aged over 50 and was suffering from severe back problems, sinusitis, raging toothache and chronic bad breath when he died of old age some time in the 1400s.

The chief findings of the initial pathological report prepared by the County's Historic Environment and Archaeology Service also revealed that at six feet tall, he towered over his contemporaries who would have been "three or four inches" shorter.

Indicator

"Stature is not just a matter of genetics, but is also an indicator of health and nutrition," said Worcester's archaeology officer James Dinn.

"We can also probably assume that for much of his life, he was well looked after, although he would appear to have suffered from malnutrition during childhood.

"We're not sure as to the date of the burial, but believe it was late 15th Century or early 16th Century."

He said he believed the man was buried on land that at the time was attached to nearby St Gudwal's chapel, which was in use throughout the life of the Commandery.

"Unfortunately, no artefacts or grave goods were found that might throw further light on his identity or status, and his burial would appear to be a typical late-mediaeval interment consistent with Christian burial practices of the period."

"As the skeleton lay only roughly east-to-west rather than properly aligned it implies that he was unlikely to have been a prominent member of Worcester society at the time.

"He had lost nine of his teeth before he died, but four abscesses also testify to the poor dental hygiene of this individual. Although it is known that tooth-picks were in use during the late mediaeval period, our man was clearly not persuaded about the benefits of this practice and instead, like the majority of the population, appears to have preferred the option of gum disease and halitosis," he said.

Although two skeletons were found, only the one has been fully excavated. Archaeologists expect to excavate the other at a later date and, after examination, both will be re-interred in the county.