ISBN:
9789088904875
,
9088904871
,
9789088904868
Language:
English
Pages:
398 pages :
,
illustrations ;
,
30 cm.
Year of publication:
2017
Series Statement:
Ruralia 11
DDC:
940.1
Keywords:
Archaeology and religion Congresses
;
Archaeology, Medieval Congresses
;
Excavations (Archaeology) Congresses
;
Folklore Congresses History To 1500
;
Sacred space Congresses History To 1500
;
Ländlicher Raum
;
Religion.
;
Ritus.
;
Europe Congresses Antiquities
;
Europe Congresses Religious life and customs To 1500
;
History
Abstract:
The study of belief, faith and religious practices can provide a deep insight into historical societies, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish or pagan. They form a constant of human behaviour. Through religion, cult and rituals, multi-layered and complex cultural norms are expressed, demonstrating group affiliation. However, popular devotion and belief in a rural environment can include practices that are out with those of the official religion.0Some of these practices discussed in this book can be investigated through archaeology. Important religious sites like churches, monasteries, mosques and synagogues as well as caves, holy wells and hermitages are discussed. Furthermore burials of children, revenants and the condemned are analysed, as they often deviate from normal practice and shed light on particular communities and their beliefs. Rituals concerning the protection of buildings and persons which focus on objects attributed with religious qualities are another area explored. Through archaeological research it is possible to gain an understanding of popular religion of medieval and early modern times and also to draw conclusions about religious ideas that are not written in documents. By bringing together these topics this book is of particular interest to scholars working in the field of archaeology, history and cultural anthropology.0The addressed subjects were the theme of an international conference of the RURALIA association held in Clervaux, Luxemburg, in September 2015
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