Differentiated treatment of deviancy at death as revealed in anthropological and archeological material

Shay, Talia

doi:10.1016/0278-4165(85)90004-2

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Man Bac mortuary practice indicates that, in death at least, the community made little distinction between individuals on the basis of age, sex or other visible characteristics (Oxenham et al, 2008a). However, individuals who are perceived as 'different' by their community in life are frequently distinguished by different treatment in death (Fay, 2009;Shay, 1985). Although M9 was buried with his contemporaries in the Man Bac cemetery, there were dispositional anomalies in his burial.…”

Section: Caring For M9: Cultural Values In Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Survival against the odds: Modeling the social implications of care provision to seriously disabled individuals

Tilley

Oxenham

2011

International Journal of Paleopathology

144

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Section: Caring For M9: Cultural Values In Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Survival against the odds: Modeling the social implications of care provision to seriously disabled individuals

Tilley

Oxenham

2011

International Journal of Paleopathology

144

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“…were possible reasons for deviancy [5]. As demonstrated by Shay [6], differential treatment in burial is not necessarily only due to negative perceptions surrounding the deceased but may also express some kind of 'positive deviancy'.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Between belief and fear - Reinterpreting prone burials during the Middle Ages and early modern period in German-speaking Europe

Alterauge

Meier

Jungklaus³

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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Prone burials are among the most distinctive deviant burials during the Middle Ages and early modern period. Despite their worldwide distribution, the meaning of this burial practice is still a matter of debate. So far, a comprehensive analysis of prone burials is lacking for Central Europe. By compiling evidence from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, this study investigates how these findings fit into the scope of medieval funerary practices. 95 prone burials from 60 archaeological sites were analyzed regarding geographical distribution, dating, burial features, body position, age-at-death and sex. We applied descriptive statistics accompanied by multiple correspondence analysis in order to highlight possible multivariate patterns in the dataset. Prone burials occur in funerary and non-funerary contexts, with a predominance of single churchyard burials, followed by favored and exterior location and settlements. In terms of grave features, the majority of churchyard burials do not differ from regular graves. Multivariate patterns appear to reflect diachronic changes in normative burial practices. We found a significant correlation between burial location and dating, due to a higher frequency of high medieval males in favored locations. In these cases, prone position is interpreted as a sign of humility, while similar evidences from late and post-medieval times are seen as an expression of deviancy. Apparent lack of care during burial reveals disrespect and possible social exclusion, with inhumations outside consecrated ground being the ultimate punishment. In some regions, apotropaic practices suggest that corpses should be prevented from returning, as attested in contemporaneous sources and folk beliefs. We hypothesize that the increase of prone burials towards the late and postmedieval period is linked to such practices triggered by epidemic diseases. The multiplicity of meanings that prone position might have in different contexts demands for careful interpretations within the same regional and chronological frame.

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“…It must be said, however, that in the majority of the cases no pathologies, signs of illness, or diseases were present which indicate physical characteristics of the dead, making them anomalous during their lifetime. As Shay (1985) demonstrated within the fi eld of sociology and ethnography, criteria of deviancy vary in different societies. Additionally, deviant burials may not refl ect the status of the deceased during his/her life but rather certain actions or the circumstances of death.…”

Section: Introduction: a Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear of the Dead? ‘Deviant’ Burials in Roman Northern Italy

Quercia

Cazzulo

2016

Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal

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Differentiated treatment of deviancy at death as revealed in anthropological and archeological material

Cited by 26 publications

References 6 publications

Survival against the odds: Modeling the social implications of care provision to seriously disabled individuals

Survival against the odds: Modeling the social implications of care provision to seriously disabled individuals

Between belief and fear - Reinterpreting prone burials during the Middle Ages and early modern period in German-speaking Europe

Fear of the Dead? ‘Deviant’ Burials in Roman Northern Italy

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