Theme:
6. The Mediterranean from Within
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Intra-Murial Burials and Their Cultural Landscape in Europe and the Mediterranean from Prehistory to the Middle Ages
Content:
DISCUSSANT: PROF. PAOLO CARAFA, UNIVERSITY “LA SAPIENZA”
The use of intra-mural graves within the city walls as well as in private houses and palaces as part of the funerary customs of ancient societies of both the Old and New World is a widely spread phenomenon in the history of humankind. In fact, the presence of these graves is in fact recognizable in numerous archaeological contexts that can be interpreted, for example, as an archaeological indicator of the cult of the ancestors.
In this session we aim to discuss intra-mural burials within European and Mediterranean contexts in relation to their different ritual, cultural, economic, social, and political landscape. From a quick review of studies in intra-mural burials it seems that, while there are some examples from continental Europe as well, the phenomenon seems to have its origin in the Near East in the Neolithic. Then it travels to the Aegean and Greece during the Bronze and Iron Age when it reaches the central Mediterranean as well, but not in all regions homogenously. For example, in central Italy they are present in Latium vetus but not in Etruria. During the Republican and Imperial Period, they are found both in Italy and the Provinces and finally in the Middle Ages they are present as children burial around the churches both in Europe and the Mediterranean.
By definition, the existence of intra-mural burials is related to the beginning of settled life and the first villages in the Near East, but which is the significance of intra-mural burials for their communities? Is there a link between expanding urbanization and intra-mural burials? Which is the ritual, social, political, and economic significance of intra-mural burial across space and time? To discuss these issues and possibly finds some answers collectively we ask for papers, which discuss intra-mural burials, either of children or adult, in relation to their cultural landscape to allow a comparative, multi-regional and diachronic perspective.
Keywords:
Mediterranean, Intra-Mural Burial, Cultural Landscapes, Diachronic Perspective, Multi-cultural Approaches
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Francesca Fulminante (United Kingdom) 1,2,3
Co-organisers:
Nicola Laneri (Italy) 4,5
Claire Hodson (United Kingdom) 6
Affiliations:
1. Bristol University
2. Oxford University
3. University Roma Tre
4. University of Catania
5. University La Sapienza
6. Durham University
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