Crypt archaeology? Another archaeology within an increasingly differentiated and specialized discipline? Crypt archaeology is still difficult to google, and there is no Wikipedia article either. The term probably first appeared in 2011 at the conference called “Transmortale”, which was jointly organized by the University of Hamburg and the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel. The […]
Crypt archaeology? Another archaeology within an increasingly differentiated and specialized discipline?
Crypt archaeology is still difficult to google, and there is no Wikipedia article either. The term probably first appeared in 2011 at the conference called “Transmortale”, which was jointly organized by the University of Hamburg and the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel. The protagonists who presented the topic are the same people who are now responsible for the book to be published. Some of them have been working underground for much longer, documenting crypts, struggling with fungal and mold infestation and often enough not only with the natural phenomena of transience, but also with the consequences of incorrect measures taken in the past or even with pure vandalism. And what can you do when twisted coffins are piled on top of each other in the crypt? What to do with the often mummified mortal remains, their clothing and grave goods? What can be saved, restored and perhaps made accessible to the public, how, with what effort and with what result? The collective of authors is also confronted with ethical questions. What should we do with these bodies that were laid to rest here for eternity some time ago? And they by no means leave it at reverence, but also shed light on the legal background when it comes to the ownership of the bodies or burial objects.
The topic certainly has a future, as burial vaults are increasingly being (re)discovered due to the growing awareness of priests, cemetery administrators, castle and mausoleum owners. Especially since the Reformation, the need for such exclusive burial sites has increased among the upper classes. Crypts can be found under almost every church that once had a noble patron who established his family burial place there. And as late as the 18th and 19th centuries, parishes were still building basements under their churches to create space for grand burial crypts. And what becomes of them once they have been restored – if the money was available? The interdisciplinary group of authors, ranging from archaeologists, historians and lawyers to textile restorers, addresses all these questions and proposes solutions that draw on a wealth of experience.
Although the “Cemetery Culture Today” series published by the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences is primarily aimed at specialists in the cemetery sector, monument conservators, art historians and restorers will also find this book useful if they ever have to deal with the sepulchral underworld. And that will be the case more and more often. Above all, the case studies described provide suggestions as to how different the approach and results can be. It is not a guideline that should be followed when working on crypts in general, but rather documents that every crypt is different. You will not be overwhelmed by the size of the book, but it remains pleasingly compact and moderately priced. If you want to find out more about crypt archaeology, this is the book for you – but it is the only one currently available.
Preuß, Dirk et alii (ed.): Saving tombs! Ein Leitfaden zum pietätvollen Umgang mit historischen Grüften (Schriftenreihe Friedhofskultur heute, Vol. 5), Frankfurt/M 2014. ISBN 978-3-943787-29-0, 156 pages, 16 pages of color photos, € 18.
