The Baker Street Individuals: Help write the next chapter

As significant work begins on the individuals excavated from the Baker Street public burial ground in Guelph, join the McMaster University research team for a project open house on Tuesday, May 26 at Guelph Civic Museum.
Dr. Megan Brickley will give a brief project update, introducing the team of experts and students working to understand the lives of those buried in Guelph's earliest colonial cemetery.

No lab coat required—just curiosity! Try your hand at an “isotope detective” game - using chemical clues in teeth to track who was a local and who migrated here. See a mini lab for peptide research and learn how researchers investigate the biological sex and ages at death of those at the site. Interact with micro-CT scanned bones and explore “Excavating the Archive.” And (guaranteed to improve your hand hygiene) learn about “Microscopic Migrants” - parasites that travelled with people - alongside other aspects of health and disease, including working with a 3D bone scanner.

This interactive evening is about you, too.
Researchers need your questions, insights, and input as they plan the next steps, including a future memorial service at Woodlawn Memorial Park to “Honour Their Journey”.

Whether you’re a history buff, a student, or simply curious about who lived - and struggled -on the land beneath your feet, come ask questions, try the hands‑on activities.

Why does this matter today? In an era of global migration, understanding how health and migration intersected in the past helps us build a more informed and compassionate future.

About Dr. Megan Brickley
Dr. Megan Brickley is a Professor of Anthropology at McMaster University and Canada Research Chair in the Bioarchaeology of Human Disease. Internationally recognized for her pioneering work on historical health and skeletal analysis, she specializes in uncovering how disease, diet, and social conditions have shaped human lives over time. Her current work with the Baker Street remains offers an unprecedented look at early life in pre-Confederation Canada.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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