The shifting use of animal carcasses in medieval and post-medieval London Lisa Yeomans Chapter 8 Introduction The supply and use of post-mortem products obtained from animal carcasses in the high and late medieval are compared to that in the post-medieval periods. The purpose of extending the discussion beyond the conference theme of the Middle Ages is to demonstrate a change in the supply of animal carcasses to urban craftsmen. Raw material distribution networks, location of workshops, scale of production and manufacturing methods can all influence how animal carcasses were used. Such factors were affected by practical issues such as supply but they were also influenced the organisation of work in the urban environment and the wider socio-economic climate. A considerable amount of historical research has focused on the economic develop- ments between the medieval period and the modern day. It is therefore interesting to examine how the industries processing the carcasses of animals did or did not adapt as the regulated crafts were eventually replaced by an industrial and capitalist economy. These industries are of particular significance since the production of goods from animal carcasses remained essentially the same technologically throughout this period suggesting that external pressures were largely responsible for any changes in production strategies. The results presented in this paper demonstrate how important the supply of raw materials was to the urban craftsmen in the medieval and post-medieval periods. Agricultural developments and enclosure of common land in the countryside had an impact on the animals that were available to the urban population. Supply between craftsmen was also a major influence as was the changing economic structure of late medieval and early post-medieval London. Craft and industry Comparing the cultural norms of medieval guild controlled production to the industrial factory based methods of manufacture that fully emerged during the 19th century gives an impression of the extent of organisational change in processing animal carcasses. Much of this development occurred between the late medieval period and 18th century, a time which marked a divide between two very different manufacturing