Grave Orientation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11614100 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Philip Rahtz (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1978 |
| Volume | 135 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 1-14 |
| Publication date | 1978-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Archaeological Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0066-5983 • E-ISSN: 2373-2288 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00665983.1978.11077641 |
| OpenAlex | W4210738391 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 13 |
| References cited | 7 |
The orientation of graves is the result of many factors, and explanations for this custom are diverse. West—east orientation is frequent, and is explained by astronomical or theological considerations, which are difficult to separate in practice; the adoption of this custom by the Christian Church reflects earlier practice, rather than a new dogma. Some post-Roman cemeteries seem to be orientated by reference to the position of sunrise. This allows possibilities of determining season of burial, and even perhaps the incidence of plague. More scientific observation and analysis are needed to resolve these problems, as well as the use of well-dated evidence from modern graveyards
Ancient history · Orientation (vector space · Plague (disease · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Historical and Architectural Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History · Mathematics
Peace in Unexpected Places
Espacios funerarios tardoantiguos/altomedievales al sur del Sistema Central
Cosmology in the Orientation of Neolithic Burials in Central China
Grave Orientation
Pagans Hill Revisited
Investigating the orientation patterns of Gumugou Cemetery (3800BP) in Xinjiang, China
The Burial Chapel of Melisende, Queen of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Excavations at Martin’s Hundred Church, James City County, Virginia
A Study of Grave Orientation in several Roman and post-Roman Cemeteries from Southern Britain
Bones, Bodies, and DIS‐Ease
Capel Maelog, Llandrindod Wells, Powys
An analysis of Byzantine burials from Hacımusalar Höyük (Turkey)
Raunds, Northamptonshire
Social Dimensions of Mortuary Practices in a Mesolithic Population from Wadi Haifa, Sudan
IV.— Excavations in an Anglo-Saxon Burial Ground at Mitcham, Surrey
Two Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries at Chamberlains Barn, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
Ethnography and archaeological interpretation of funerary remains
Patterning in Death in a Late Prehistoric Village in Pennsylvania
| Unique citing works | 13 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,3 |
| Citation span | 1982 - 2026 (45) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 13 |