Memorial support of the grave and social status in Saint Jean de Todon cemetery (Laudun- l’Ardoise, Gard, France) - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2015

Memorial support of the grave and social status in Saint Jean de Todon cemetery (Laudun- l’Ardoise, Gard, France)

Résumé

A recent, archaeological survey at Saint Jean de Todon (well preserved rural Clunician priory In Laudun Gard France) explored thoroughly a medieval cemetery (187 coffered graves), together with its chapel. Radiocarbon dating revealed the main period of burial activity to be the second half of the 9th century to mid 12th century. Unlike most of the recently excavated medieval cemeteries in France, Saint Jean de Todon distinguishes itself by its remarkably well preserved funerary lay out defining the graves on the cemetery ground. The funerary architecture and the cist ornamentation (steles, stone beds, and lime or mortar layers), indicate that the buried individuals were probably ranked amongst the higher echelons of society. Because of the exceptional workmanship, assuring permanent visibility of the grave and remembrance of the defunct(s), they underline the importance a social status rather than paleobiological features, funerary objects or funerary topography? Are these problematics only the monumental translation of willpower of a privileged elite to immortalize their sepulchral memory to attain salvation by insuring itself with a highly visible support for a remembrance through a monastic prayer?
Fichier non déposé

Dates et versions

hal-02288897 , version 1 (16-09-2019)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-02288897 , version 1

Citer

Yann Ardagna, Laurent Vidal, Delphine Blanchard, Marcelle Boyer, Marilou Couval, et al.. Memorial support of the grave and social status in Saint Jean de Todon cemetery (Laudun- l’Ardoise, Gard, France). Being Medieval, Society for Medieval Archaeology; University of Central Lancashire, Dec 2015, Preston, United Kingdom. ⟨hal-02288897⟩
44 Consultations
0 Téléchargements

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More