Where are medieval peasants buried?

Question

Recently I've been reading about a couple of churches in my area, one of them was started in The Norman period, the other goes back even further, Even though the structures have changed, they've remained in the same place over the centuries.
I see gravestones in one of the churches going back to the 1700's, but then i'm wondering what happened to people buried before then?, are they in the same churchyard but without headstones and the victorians have buried their dead over the top of them?
Or are they elsewhere?

Nightwind · Accepted Answer

Churches didn't generally use headstones before the 1700s.  That's why you don't see them.

Bodies degrade over time, even the bones.  It's entirely possible that the newer graves have been put over the older ones, but there's very little left of the older ones.

As an example, read up on the Sutton Hoo 7th century burial.  Very rich man's early medieval burial.  We know where the body used to be but its completely decayed due to soil acidity.

Incidentally, many European countries continue to do this.  Germany rents out plots in 15 year intervals.  The practice is generally illegal in the UK.  You can find many articles by googling "europe graves reused."

Maxi · Answer

They are in the same church yard, but not with head stones......... same as if people are buried now in a church yard ( which is unusual in the UK as most people are cremated and /or buried/cremated and in a municipal cemetery) they are often being buried in Victorian graves.................

SYLVIA PAEZ · Answer

they were buried in a church yard called " cemetery" in medieval village'''       Sylvia paez

? · Answer

Generally underground.  ;p

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Where are medieval peasants buried?

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