Exchanging Medieval Material Culture Studies on archaeology and ...

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Rica Annaert
At Broechem the orientation seems to be linked to the chronology
of the cemetery. Th e N-S orientated graves cut across
the W-E orientated ones while the cremations disturb both
the N-S and the W-E orientated inhumations. From a chronological
view, the cremations belong to the later phase of burial
on the site, while the W-E orientated inhumations can be
dated to the earlier phase of the cemetery layout. Th is interpretation
must be regarded with caution because some juxtaposition
of cremation and inhumation may have signifi cance
(see earlier). Moreover the position of cremations in the
upper subsoil layers is a logical phenomenon because of the
shallow deposition of these burials. Both rites were certainly
in use at the same time because disturbed cremation remains
were found in many inhumation grave pits. Th e radiocarbon
dating results place the three investigated cremations in the
fi rst half of the 6th century8.
When looking how the burials are arranged with regard to
existing graves, some interesting features start to emerge:
inhumations as well as cremations both disturb and are disturbed
or even destroyed by other graves. Th is questions
whether a tradition existed for placing a physical memorial
(in wood or stone) on the surface of the grave. In contrast,
other graves are certainly arranged in relation to each other,
some in juxtaposition, and others in a linear alignment.
Possibly diff erent family groups, gender or age groups are to
be distinguished in this way.
Th e association of horse burials with rich chamber graves and
the clustering of these burials, refl ects the presence of an elite
group in the Broechem population. Th ese clustered graves have
a central and isolated position in the cemetery.
Fig. 4 View on the recently excavated
northern part of the cemetery characterised by
an orderly lay out in rows.
8 Naysmith et al. 2007.
Fig. 3 Remains of a human body visible as a soil stain in the acidic
soil of Broechem.