The First and Fourth Crusades of the 11th and 13th centuries were major historical events, with great influence on the geopolitics of their time. This study aimed to explore if following these...Show moreThe First and Fourth Crusades of the 11th and 13th centuries were major historical events, with great influence on the geopolitics of their time. This study aimed to explore if following these crusades specifically through their mortuary archaeology is possible, aiming to trace their routes and identify the burials they left behind in Anatolia, Greece, and the Levant. The research encompassed a detailed analysis of historical background, the course of the crusades, and their outcomes. Furthermore, burial practices in Anatolia and Greece during the 10th to 13th centuries were examined as a baseline for comparison with crusader burial customs. Despite the abundance of historical records pinpointing crusader routes and battle locations, the mortuary archaeological evidence remains surprisingly scarce. While a great number of crusader burials sites exist along the known routes, few can be directly linked to the First or Fourth Crusades. All identified crusader burials display noticeable similarities. This uniformity across burial practices complicates associating specific graves with a specific crusade. Additionally, the resemblance between crusader and local burial customs in Greece and Anatolia makes it difficult to identify graves as being crusader and results in a lack of evidence in these regions. In contrast, crusader burials in the Levant demonstrate a firmer adherence to the Frankish standard, aiding in identifying the crusader burials here. In conclusion, while the crusades made an undeniable mark on the Middle East and Asia Minor's archaeology, isolating specific crusader burials to follow their respective routes proves challenging. Nevertheless, this study serves as a starting point, highlighting the need for further research to uncover hidden crusader burials and expand our understanding of crusader archaeology in Anatolia and the Levant. The available historical data presents ample opportunities for further archaeological research in these regions, offering prospects for greater insights into the crusades' archaeology.Show less
This study concerns the Christian cemetery surrounding the Romanesque and earliest Gothic churches in the village of Reusel. This cemetery dating to the 10th to 14th centuries was almost completely...Show moreThis study concerns the Christian cemetery surrounding the Romanesque and earliest Gothic churches in the village of Reusel. This cemetery dating to the 10th to 14th centuries was almost completely excavated. The aim of this study is twofold: to determine the composition of the sample of excavated graves, and to assess patterns in the ways the individuals were buried. In particular, it was examined if differentiation in grave morphologies and distribution could be related to social differences. In order to do this, different grave morphologies, the orientation of the graves and their location, and the skeletons from the graves were examined. Furthermore, characteristics were compared to each other to see if patterns emerged. The composition of the sample suggests that most adult community members were buried at the Reusel cemetery. Most children however, and especially the infants, may not have been buried within the cemetery grounds. The ones that were, were all buried in the eastern part of the cemetery, except for one infant that was buried together with an adult. Males were slightly overrepresented in the sample, but this is likely to be due to sample size. Remarkably, intramural burial was rare. Burial took place on all sides of the successive churches, but particularly directly to the east of it. Different grave morphologies appeared all over the cemetery, apart from the ladder coffin, which was restricted to the eastern part of the churchyard. This type of coffin may be related to a specific status of the deceased be it in terms of wealth or piety. Furthermore, as far as could be determined, only males were buried in such coffins. Other observed grave morphologies include anthropomorphic graves, log coffins, coffins with and without protrusions and containers of unknown type. Coffins with and without nails were encountered, a difference that could be attributed to different periods. Most graves were oriented roughly from east to west, except three graves that were oriented west to east. Within the Christian tradition, such burials are often interpreted as priests, but the fact that at least one of these individuals was a woman, suggests traditions in Reusel may have been deviant. This study sheds more light on burial practices during the Central and Late Middle Ages. It shows that in the Reusel community, some practices were in accordance with those in other medieval communities, although others were clearly different. It confirms the existence of local variation in burial practices in this period. Apparently, people from local communities could, to a certain extent, give their own interpretation to Christian rituals. In future cemetery studies, such local variations have to be taken into account. Future research in these areas will help to acquire a better picture of medieval burial ritual and its social meaning in the southern Netherlands. This study is under embargo because the author prepares a more comprehensive report on this exceptional site.Show less
