A recent study led by Dr. Astrid Noterman explored the uncommon practice of bed burials in medieval Europe. Primarily discovered in Germany, England, and Scandinavia, these burials show notable regional differences.
The study, published in the European Journal of Archaeology, highlights that many medieval bed burials remain insufficiently analyzed, either individually or as a group. This leaves key questions unanswered—such as where these burials were concentrated, the social status of the individuals buried, and whether bed burials represent a single burial tradition with regional differences or several distinct practices sharing common features.
Simple Settings and Wooden Frames
Dr. Astrid Noterman found that in Germany, bed burials typically appear in featureless cemeteries with no consistent orientation. These graves usually include a wooden bed frame on which the body was laid. Notable examples come from sites like Oberflacht and Trossingen in Baden-Württemberg and Cologne Cathedral in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Both men and women were commonly buried with modest grave goods such as wooden bowls or rings, though some graves included elaborate items like a lyre, a candelabra, or even a double chair. Female burials often featured tools related to weaving—such as spindle whorls, needles, weaving battens, and wooden distaffs.
In England, bed burials often consisted of disassembled beds, typically located in cemeteries, though some were found in ancient burial mounds. Reusing these older monuments is a well-documented practice in England and is not exclusive to bed burials.
Interestingly, most bed burials are associated with women, though a notable exception is a male burial found at Lapwing Hill in Derbyshire.
Isolated Monuments and Lavish Graves
In contrast, Scandinavian bed burials differ significantly from those in Germany and England. Rather than being part of larger cemeteries, they often stand alone. Prominent examples include the monumental ship burials at Gokstad and Oseberg, which were typically constructed near trade routes and positioned to be highly visible across the landscape. These graves contained both men and women, often accompanied by rich grave goods.
Dr. Noterman observed that while adult bed burials did not follow clear age patterns, sub-adult burials did vary by region. In Germany, children buried in beds were usually between three and seven years old, whereas in England, they tended to be between thirteen and eighteen.
Furthermore, isotopic analysis showed regional differences in the origins of the deceased. In Germany, bed burials generally contained local individuals. However, in England, evidence from Edix Hill and Trumpington indicated that those buried had grown up in continental Europe. Similarly, isotope data revealed that two women buried in the Oseberg ship had come from the Black Sea region.
These findings imply that bed burial may have originated as a local tradition in parts of continental Europe, while in other areas, it may have been introduced by migrants.
Read the original article on: Phys Org
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