Early Medieval Bed Burials with Dr. Emma Brownlee episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 23, 2023 · 51 MIN

Early Medieval Bed Burials with Dr. Emma Brownlee

from The Shindig - An Archaeology Podcast

Burial in Your Bed, Early Medieval Style: Join Cambridge graves and cemetery expert Dr. Emma Brownlee as she talks about the archaeology and history of the fascinating phenomenon of early medieval bed burials from their Coptic Egyptian or Byzantine origins to the stunning 'Harpole Treasure' grave in 7th-century Anglo-Saxon England.01:43 - What is a bed burial? The where and when in early medieval Europe03:19 - Why bury your loved ones on a bed? Status and Emotion - providing comfort for eternal rest05:10 - Scandinavian bed burials were VERY comfortable, even having mattresses!06:15 - Bed burials: a huge investment of time and resources - often under monumental mounds07:40 - Beds are high-status - who is being buried in them? The boy buried in a cot in Cologne10:20 - Types of beds, from simple 'crate' beds to 'baluster' beds, and the differences in England13:00 - Were the beds heirlooms, or made bespoke for the burial?15:00 - Not Dead, Only Sleeping: bed burials providing comfort until the Resurrection16:50 - Origins: where and when do bed burials originate? Coptic Egypt? Eastern Roman Empire?18:55 - The grave goods in bed burials: the Cologne boy with weapons, helmet, and food offerings20:15 - Christian grave goods (burial artefacts) - beautiful high-status crosses in (English) bed burials22:14 - Why are Christians buried with grave goods?22:54 - England is different: *all* 7th century, *all* women, and had a distinct style of beds25:48 - English beds: how they are special - it's all about the eyelets28:00 - Beautiful grave goods: bed burials have 'much richer' artefacts than other burial types28:57 - Less is More: the wonderful Trumpington bed burial, including a cloisonné cross32:55 - Isotopic analysis - where were the 'English' bed burial women coming from - NOT England!35:10 - Amazing mobility of bed burial women: Christian rite imported from Continent by women34:45 - The Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England: women, conversion, and import of bed burials38:10 - The Famous Harpole Treasure (Bed?) Burial: *that* necklace, the silver cross, and a bed (?)42:30 - Emma's Favourite Finds: the Trumpington bed burialInterviewer: Dr. Tom HorneProducer and Editor: Luke Barry#archaeology #history #podcast #medieval #earlymedieval #graves #cemeteryThe Shindig is a Rubicon Archaeology Production.Keep up to date with everything Rubicon here: Click for More Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Early Medieval Bed Burials with Dr. Emma Brownlee

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This episode was published on April 23, 2023.

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Burial in Your Bed, Early Medieval Style: Join Cambridge graves and cemetery expert Dr. Emma Brownlee as she talks about the archaeology and history of the fascinating phenomenon of early medieval bed burials from their Coptic Egyptian or Byzantine...

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