Join us for an engaging evening with the Helmsley Archaeological & Historical Society as we delve into RATTUS: Rats and the Archaeology of Trade, Urbanism, and Disease in Past European Societies. This event will feature The Rattus Project, University of York, offering fascinating insights into  Rattus, a five-year project aiming to understand the links between European rat populations and human societies over the past c.2000 years.  The black rat and brown rat (Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus) are among the most globally successful commensal species: each has spread far beyond native ranges in southern and eastern Asia by colonising niches around human settlements.

In this talk we will provide an update of the work undertaken by the project so far, exploring the history of rats in Europe from late prehistoric origins to the 19th century.  We will discuss the multidisciplinary research being utilised, including using zooarchaeology, palaeoproteomics, palaeogenomics, isotopic analysis, ecological modelling, and history to understand both how humans have affected the rats, and how the rats have affected us. 

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the rich heritage of Helmsley and beyond, this is an event not to be missed!