“Digging” into Early Middle Ages Europe with Big Data

In the middle of the 6th century AD, a dramatic transformation began in the way the peoples of Western Europe buried their dead. The transition from “furnished” burial (those with funeral objects including jewelry, clothing accessories, tools and personal items, etc.) preferred mode of burial.

This relatively rapid change, spreading to almost all of Western Europe in c. 150 years – indicates the interdependence of early Middle Ages Europe, but is it that simple?

Dr Emma Brownlee, a researcher at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and a fellow of Girton College, Cambridge University, identified regional nuances and variabilities in funeral rites using a ‘Big Data’ study of over 26,000 graves. The study is published in the Internet journal Archeology.

Dr Brownlee said: “It’s a really complex picture. The change in burial during this period has long been viewed as a mere trajectory from a variable and furnished funeral rite, to a burial shrouded much more standardized in a cemetery. But, there is much more variation than that, both in the way the proper use of graves has changed over time and in the way it initially varied. come up with a simple narrative as to why funeral rites have a certain appearance in different parts of Europe, because although there are major trends in certain directions, there is also a huge amount of variation within regions. “

Highlighting an important detail of this study, Emma Brownlee continued, “You can see clear links between Kent and northern France, not so much in the way they use grave goods, but in the fact that they are the only regions where the use of funerary goods did not decline throughout the seventh century. In many ways the proper use of graves in Kent resembled other parts of England, with items such as brooches, beads, and knives often placed in graves, while items such as vessels were more rarely used. “

“But, as the proper use of graves gradually declined in other parts of England, the graves in Kent continued to be richly furnished until the end of the 7th century when these rich cemeteries were abandoned. C ‘is exactly what we see in northern France; despite a fairly different funerary culture – with much more emphasis on vases in tombs – rich furnishings continue to be common long after it began to grow. decline in other regions, while the rest of England has a greater affinity with places like southern Germany. ”

Dr. Brownlee further concluded: “Essentially, there is no way to demonstrate that a certain combination of funeral assets indicates one regional tradition over another. Instead, we see a funeral rite that is influenced by the choices others make in a community, influenced by choices made in surrounding communities, influenced by the identity of the deceased. It is ultimately something very personal, and based on decisions made under the emotionally charged circumstances surrounding a death. Other aspects of funerals, such as the choice of burial or cremation, or the use of a casket, a stone setting or a simple grave dug in the earth, were most likely influenced by similar decisions. “

“While there are regional trends and trends based on identity, this should not be used to mask the variability within those trends. Each funeral was unique and was probably quite personal for the families.”