Atypical Infant Burials in the Capital of the Second Bulgarian Tsardom Tarnovgrad (12th–14th c.)

Abstract

This article presents four atypical burials from the Second Bulgarian Tsardom, all involving the interment of newborns/infants in ceramic vessels. The graves were discovered in different parts of medieval Tarnovgrad, including the fortified hills of Trapezitsa and Tsarevets, as well as the western suburb at the foot of Momina Krepost. Although each case appears in a distinct archaeological context – some within established Christian necropolises and one within a dwelling, they all diverge from the standard funerary practices of the period. The uniform Christian burial rite, defined by strict orientation rules and conventional grave structures, provides a clear contrast to these unusual examples. The available archaeological and anthropological data indicate that the deceased were newborn or very young infants, in one case possibly a stillbirth. While interpretations remain tentative, the rarity of these burials and their distribution within the capital suggest that this practice, though exceptional, was known among the medieval population of Tarnovgrad.