Burial practices in Byzantine Greece: archaeological evidence and methodological problems for its interpretation (original) (raw)
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Rome, Constantinople, and Newly-Converted Europe: Archaeological and Historical Evidence, 2012
Abstract. Burial practices in Byzantine Greece: archaeological evidence and methodological problems for its interpretation. The spread of Christianity across the Byzantine Empire has been mainly studied through research on monumental architecture and burial. Burial customs used in mainland Greece and the Aegean during the Early Byzantine period (4th-7th century) gradually move away from pagan funerary customs. In the archaeological record, we can see a movement of burials from the traditional extramural cemeteries towards the intramural area, due to a gradual preference for burials in close proximity to Christian churches. Christian burials adopt a definite orientation and position of the body, while deposition of grave goods gradually vanishes. Christian symbols usually appear only as depicted images, either on the walls of the graves, or on oil-lamps and other objects which were used during the funerary ritual. In the majority of the cases, when such symbols are not present, the distinction between pagan and Christian graves may be difficult or even impossible. During the traditional period, the so-called “Dark Ages” (7th-9th century), the new burial customs have been fully adopted in the urban centres, where Christianity has been established. However, the predominance of evidence of Byzantine urban vs. rural cemeteries in the archaeological record may produce a distorted image concerning religious belief and mortuary practices. The present paper includes evidence from some urban and rural cemeteries, as well as from a Slavic cemetery in Olympia, thus aiming to provide a varied picture of burial practices. Burial habits of the Middle Byzantine period (10th-12th century) are archaeologically invisible to a high degree. Middle Byzantine burials often lack satisfactory dating methods; this, in combination with poor publication of graves of this period, creates problems in the discussion of the evolution of mortuary customs. Published cemeteries of this period show, however, a preference for the creation of cemeteries in abandoned urban areas (such as the ancient or Roman forum) and a tendency for burial inside churches. Usual burial finds of this period are ceramic vessels, jewellery, and coins. Crosses and reliquaries are rather rare, but they do appear in a few cases. The present paper presents a number of well documented cemeteries of Byzantine Greece and discusses issues of interpretation and chronology. While many of these issues need further thorough research, it becomes apparent that comparison with evidence from other countries, both within and beyond the limits of the Byzantine Empire, can only enhance our understanding of funerary tradition and practices.
Burials of the Byzantine Near East (4th-7th centuries) Volume 1 of 2
2023
Research on burials of the Byzantine Near East has focused on a transformation from ‘pagan’ to ‘Christian’ beliefs, the simplicity of Christian burial, and exceptional examples. To date, a large-scale data study on the Byzantine burials of this region has not been undertaken. This thesis provides the first big data study on burials of the Near East between 330 CE and the Arab invasions in the seventh century. The study explores different aspects related to burial and their study: tomb types, cemetery organisation, human remains and their study, grave goods, inscriptions, and iconography. These aspects are situated in a series of case studies that show the value in careful and detailed analysis. Two chapters are also dedicated to the study of human remains, which is identified as a key weakness in the current state of Byzantine studies.
Coptica, 2012
, at the post-New Kingdom Tell El-Hibeh, middle Egypt, have resulted in the collection and documentation of numerous human remains, including burials that date from the Late Roman (Byzantine) Period. Data derived from x-rays, an endoscopy on one individual, and necropsies on two individuals dating to the Byzantine Period, along with the archaeological context in which they were found, suggest profound changes in burial practices following the introduction of Christianity to this part of Egypt. The transition from pagan to Christian treatment of the dead pursuant to the edicts of St. Anthony in the fourth century CE is manifest in the Byzantine necropolis that was designated the North Gate Looter Pit (NGLP). The current data indicate that a transition in the treatment of the dead may have occurred between early and later Byzantine times. * This article is based in large part on an article entitled New Evidence of Coptic Mummification Techniques from Tell El-Hibeh, Middle Egypt [2012], by Yohe, Gardner, and Heikkinen, published by British Archaeological Reports (BAR). Many of the technical scientific data have been removed from this version, but new information regarding radiocarbon dates, the endoscopic work on Mummy NGLP-7, and the preliminary results of the field work from 2007 have been added. The reader is referred to the BAR publication for additional details from previous field seasons.