Theme:
2. Archaeological Sciences, Humanities and the Digital era: Bridging the Gaps
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Post-medieval cemeteries on the focus - Anthropological and archaeological studies about the past 500 years
Content:
Due to the successful session on the 29th EAA, we are once again hosting a session focusing on post-medieval cemeteries. Researching post-medieval/modern cemeteries offers us a variety of possibilities and information for us about our past. Bioarchaeological research of these human remains and their archaeological contexts enriches our knowledge in several ways: we can learn about the social structure, burial customs, migrations, population changes, diseases, health conditions, crises, and violent events. Opposite to earlier periods, bioarchaeological data can often be testified by a written source about the individual or a community, or even by documented major historical events. For example, in the case of studying epidemic periods, the cemeteries of the last 500 years can provide the best opportunity to examine different impacts on human populations in the past. Furthermore, it raises important ethical questions, since, on the one hand, the relatives of those buried may still be alive, thus opening up the possibilities to connect those buried with the living local community. In this way, through the exhibition and storytelling of the remains and material culture, the local community can become closer to their own history and heritage and foster a sense of pride and connection to the past. On the other hand, actual trends in museum studies emerge, which concern the question of how human remains from a period so close to our present can best be treated and exhibited.
This session represents a developing but essential field of archaeology. This session aims to bring together researchers who share a similar interest in cemeteries of the post-medieval/ modern period.
Expected papers may include:
- Presentation of excavations and findings.
- Bioarchaeological analysis of the cemeteries
- Paleopathological analysis of the individuals
- Ethical questions
- Storytelling through post-medieval material culture and human remains in exhibitions
Keywords:
postmedieval, bioarchaeology, modern period, osteoarchaeology, cemetery, paleopathology
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:
Csilla Líbor (Hungary) 1
Co-organisers:
Hubert Lepionka (Poland) 2
Olga Dec (Poland) 3
Tekla Balogh Bodor (Hungary) 1
Affiliations:
1. Hungarian National Museum
2. Podlaskie Museum in Bialystok
3. Adam Mickiewicz University
THIS SESSION CAN NOT BE SELECTED AT THIS MOMENT