Charcoal Burials

I was doing some research on different kinds of ‘deviant’ or non-normative burials and I came across a type of burial I had never heard of before that I thought sounded quite intriguing called charcoal burials. These burials have been located around Europe dating from around the 8^th- 12^th centuries (Thompson 2002). They vary quite a bit in composition but they all include a charcoal layer either above or the below the body, or in some cases both above and below. They also all seem to be associated with Christian burials (Thompson 2002).

 

http://tour.rammuseum.org.uk/tours-in-exeter/tour-of-the-quay/middle-saxon-cemetery/

Here is a photo of an adult Saxon charcoal burial from Cathedral Close in Exeter, UK

 

There does not seem to be any particular association with age or gender overall, however in specific cemeteries there does appear to be differential representation of sex in the charcoal burials (Daniell 1998). The main question that archaeologists have puzzled over is why these individuals? What is it about these people that requires differential treatment in death? While there is no definite answer some interesting hypotheses have been proposed including:

• ·         Reflection of a certain socioeconomic status

• ·         Representation of a particular family, community or religious group

• ·         Absorption of bodily fluids produced by decomposition (yummy!)

• ·         Symbolic of penitence and purity

The evidence does suggests that charcoal burials reflect a specific group of people because the numbers do not seem to represent a general burial trend that was introduced, gained in popularity and then declined and went out of fashion. The argument for the charcoal representing some kind of penitence or purity has been proposed based on similarity to sackcloth and ashes which have been documented as signs of penitence (Daniell 1998). It may also be a combination of these hypotheses or the meaning may have evolved over time. Similarly to what I was talking about surrounding the interpretation of Stonehenge in my last post; a burial tradition spanning a couple of centuries is likely to have evolved a good deal from the meanings associated with the earliest burials. Anyways that’s all, I just thought I would share a bit about charcoal burials with you because I think they are really cool!

Here are the references I used if you are interested in more information!

1. Thompson V. 2002. The body under siege in life and death. In, Death and Dying in Later Anglo-Saxon England, 4:92-131. Woodbridge: Boydell Press

1. Daniell C. 1998. Cemeteries and Grave Goods. In, Death and Burial in Medieval England 1066-1550, 6:145-172. New York: Routledge