Burying the Dead: An Archaeological History of Burial Grounds, Graveyards and Cemeteries

The Anglo-Saxon execution cemetery at Walkington Wold in North Yorkshire is a unique burial ground, with twelve skeletons found without skulls. These burial grounds are an important part of our social heritage, recording social change and the symbols engraved on individual memorials convey a sense of belief systems. Symbols of Mortality explores how these attitudes, practices, and beliefs about death have undergone continual change, revealing how we continue to reinforce our relationships with the dead.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 216 pages
\n Publication date: 17 November 2020
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Deep within the heart of North Yorkshire, nestled at a place called Walkington Wold, lies an extraordinary burial ground, an Anglo-Saxon execution cemetery. Twelve skeletons were unearthed by archaeologists, ten of which lacked skulls, subsequent examination of the remains revealed that these unfortunate individuals met their demise through judicial execution by decapitation, one of which necessitated multiple blows. Similar fates have befallen other wretched souls, their undignified burials, particularly in the Middle Ages, considered the most profound of sins, and the desecration of their bodies, largely unrecorded. While plague pits, vast cemeteries where victims of the Black Death were indiscriminately tossed into the ground, their bodies festering atop one another, are only now revealing their secrets. Although unsettling to some, these burial grounds hold immense significance in our social heritage. They have been shaped by the very people who established and utilized them, as well as the buildings, gravestones, and other features they encompass. These burial grounds serve as records of societal change, with the symbols engraved upon individual memorials conveying a profound sense of inherent belief systems. These symbols were constructed, adapted, or abandoned based on the evolving needs of individuals and communities. Symbols of Mortality delves into the intricate evolution of these attitudes, practices, and beliefs surrounding death. By examining the development of society's funerary spaces, the author aims to unveil how we persistently reinforce our connections with the deceased, engaging in a continuous and ongoing endeavor to maintain a bond with them.

\n Weight: 520g\n
Dimension: 164 x 240 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526706676\n \n