Archaeological Evidence of Atypical Burials in the Middle Ages

The research into the Medieval necropolises in territory of present-day Serbia has established a relatively standardized mode interment bodies men, women, and children. deceased were laid supine oriented west to east, with their head west. This paper addresses deviations from this practice recorded dated period 10th 15th centuries. evidence is critically discussed on individuals contrary standard, ones buried foetal position, thrown burial pit or prone, facing downward.
 aim raise question who these people, deprived prescriptive Christian funeral adequate treatment death. based precept that there correlation between persons extraordinary positions graves, outcasts, stigmatized marginalized individuals.
 upon theoretical basis postulates dead body as community’s encounter social loss additional unwanted outcome death – cadaver. Additionally, modes marginalization generation society through deprivation decent are various perspectives, starting ideas Robert E. Park, Erving Goffman Elisa Perego.
 Regardless fact phenomenon atypically not been duly investigated Serbian archaeology, analysis shows contexts corresponding type registered at no less than 19 sites. In order offer more precise answer which have indeed why, it essential conduct physical-anthropological analyses, present only two instances treated here.
 Considering quality data disposal, reaches conclusion norm (with exception children), pit, prone downward, ones. Particularly indicative situations where one parameter stigmatization funerary context. suggestion put forward flexed position could due some illness, such muscular atrophy paralysis. new-borns children, under stećci, raises issue children cultural context.
 spite limitations reinterpretation old evidence, potential demonstrated integrating lines evidence: archaeological, physical-anthropological, ethnographic, historiographic, legal-historic.