The medieval cemetery of ‘Atlit. Historiography and new archaeological data (2014–2019)
Résumé
Cemeteries are peculiar spaces, devoted to gathering the dead and involving the organisation of social groups. They constituted memory spaces for many medieval societies and may thus be considered as markers of social and religious groups within specific territories. The medieval cemetery of ‘Atlit is located outside of the walls encircling the Chastel Pelerin and its burgus and facing a road leading to the north-eastern gate. The medieval cemetery of ‘Atlit is currently the best-preserved known graveyard in the Latin East. In 2014, a multidisciplinary team started an overall study of the site incorporating an analysis of the earlier excavation archive, a survey, and archaeological soundings. The practical application in the field of archaeothanatological methods has allowed us to identify the types of burial, the position of the bodies, and the practices linked to the use of the funeral spaces. The geographical origin, through the analysis of anthropological samples, will further contribute to understanding the identity of the dead.