Session: #379

Discussion session (with formal abstracts)

In the last decade archaeology has reappraised the study of rare, highly individualized and unusual mortuary finds commonly referred to as atypical or deviant burials. Research on medieval funerary customs has been particularly active in this exploit, although the phenomenon is by far not limited to this period. The growing number of new discoveries around Europe opens up the possibilities for more interdisciplinary and elaborate examinations, while their outstanding nature urges archaeologists to find analogies outside their immediate background. As a result, the deviant burials create a discourse that arguably for very first time in the discipline is truly glocal in its analytical efforts.
This roundtable aims at recapitulating on the current debate and hopes to identify a way forward. Despite the increase of attention to the topic, there is still lack of consensus on some of its core issues. The situation is exemplified by the uneasiness around terminological preferences or the applicability of ethnographic accounts in explaining the phenomenon, especially in older interpretative frameworks. Establishing direct and more structured environment for evidence-based discussion will greatly assist any advancements in this respect. When available, participants will be strongly encouraged to introduce and consider newly obtained data, including via supplementary poster presentations. Moreover, the discussion shall emphasize on how the theoretical and methodological achievements or problems set by the deviant burials could inform other aspects of archaeological thinking, either chronologic or thematic.

Death and burial, Deviant burials, Legal culture, Violence, Religion

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Petar Parvanov (Bulgaria) ¹

Maria Vargha (Austria) ²