"Why Were The Dead Not Left To 'Rest In Peace'?" (23Feb2025) Allan Barton - The Antiquary

The video discusses the reuse of burial space in medieval and early modern Britain, focusing on ordinary people's burial practices and the cultural and architectural heritage left behind. Modern Burial Practices: In Western Europe, the modern view that graves are sacrosanct and should not be disturbed developed during the Industrial Revolution due to practical reasons. Legal Ownership of Grave Space: In English church and civil law, individuals or families do not own grave spaces, and burial rights typically last for one hundred years, after which the space can be reused. Medieval Burial Practices: In the Middle Ages, people were usually buried in shrouds rather than coffins, and graves were reused in rotation, with wooden crosses marking most graves. Urban Burial Issues: In expanding cities like London during the Industrial Revolution, graveyard space was insufficient, leading to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, which prompted changes in burial practices and the creation of new cemeteries. Continued Practice in Rural Areas: The practice of reusing graves has continued in many rural English churchyards, where bones found during new burials are respectfully reinterred. Charnel Houses: Charnel houses, or ossuaries, were used in the Middle Ages to store disarticulated bones, often with a chapel above for prayers, and some still exist today.
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☆Original Source Video:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GBdE0CMQS1I