There was no peace even after death
So, as we’ve seen, life was pretty grim for the average person in Medieval times. Perhaps it was a blessing that, for most people, life was as short as it was brutal. Anyone over the age of 50 in the Dark Ages was considered to be elderly. But that didn’t mean you got to retire. The over-50s were expected to pay their way and keep working until they simply couldn’t physically do it anymore. After that, they were seen more as a burden than anything else. So, for many, death was the only real chance to escape from the everyday hardships or working the fields and trying to get enough money and food to survive. But even in death, many people didn’t get peace.
According to some research, in Europe during the Middle Ages, a massive 40% of graves were disturbed. Now, this wasn’t like grave-robbing during the Enlightenment. There were no university medical schools paying good money for fresh corpses to study. Rather, most cases of grave disturbances were run-of-the-mill theft. Often, people would be buried with a small selection of their possessions, perhaps a favorite cup or other such trinkets. In tough times, even such objects might be enough to tempt a thief to dig up a grave.
However, this wasn’t always the case. Archaeologists in England have found many examples of Medieval graves being disturbed. More specifically, they have found evidence to suggest that, rather than looking for objects, those responsible bound and gagged the dead bodies. It seems that they were fearful of restless souls, or perhaps even of the undead rising again. Freak weather events – such as the ‘Little Ice Age’ – led people confused and often making outlandish assumptions. For many, things could only get better if the dead were dug up and then tied up. Grim times indeed – small wonder that many people simply chose to bury their relatives in unmarked graves so that they could, at last, enjoy some genuine peace and rest.
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Life in Medieval Towns and Villages”. Brewminate.
“Everyday Life in the Middle Ages”. BBC Education.
“10 dangers of the medieval period”. Dr. Katherine Olson, BBC History Extra.
“When Fashion Decreed Stripes a Capital Crime”. Emily Eakin, The New York Times, June 2001.
History Extra – How Bloody Was Medieval Life?
Medievalist – Sex in the Middle Ages
Medium – 12 Interesting Facts About Sex In Medieval Times
History Extra – Plague, Famine And Sudden Death: 10 Dangers Of The Medieval Period
History of Yesterday – Putting Impotency to the Test
Spartacus Education – Taxation in the Middle Ages
Smithsonian Magazine – Why Did Early Medieval Europeans Reopen Graves?
More From Medieval Times & Ages:
History Collection – 12 Knights and Famous Figures from Medieval Times
History Collection – 8 Medical Practices From Medieval Times That Will Turn Your Stomach
History Collection – 10 Things You Should Know Before Hosting a Medieval Feast
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