Requiem: the medieval monastic cemetery in Britain

Abstract

• This comprehensive study of excavated monastic cemeteries analyses some 8000 graves from more than 70 cemeteries in England, Wales and Scotland, focusing principally on medieval religious houses (c 1000 AD to c 1550). Comparative evidence comes from cathedrals, parish churches and Jewish cemeteries. The book is complemented by a fully accessible, web-mounted database archived with the Archaeology Data Service. A multi-disciplinary approach uses medieval visual and written sources as well as archaeological evidence. The sequence of events connected with burial is highlighted, showing the significance of social identity, the agency of mourners, and the role of the family and community in medieval burial rituals.