Project information
Skeletons and Society: Funerary Practices and Population Diversity at the Vojtova Cemetery in 19th-Century Brno

In 2017, a previously 19th-century cemetery containing approximately 1,200 individuals was excavated at Vojtova Street in Brno, representing a rare opportunity to investigate urban funerary practices and population health during a period of rapid social and industrial change. This thesis suggests a preliminary archaeothanatological analysis of a selected sample of 150 burials, forming the first stage of a long-term collaboration between the Department of Anthropology and the archaeological company Archaia Brno.
The research applies an archaeothanatological approach to reconstruct body positions at burial, determine burial types (primary or secondary), and evaluate decomposition environments, such as burial in a void or in filled contexts. The analysis is based on excavation documentation, provided by Archaia Brno and placed at the disposal of the research team, including in situ photographs of the skeletons prior to removal. Particular attention is paid to the articulation state of skeletal elements and post-depositional changes to infer burial conditions and funerary gestures.
By integrating taphonomic observations with archaeological context, the study examines funerary practices and their variability within the cemetery. Spatial analysis of burial distribution will be done to assess patterns in burial organization and to explore whether structured arrangements or distinct burial zones can be identified. This research provides the first archaeothanatological insight into funerary practices at one of Brno’s largest 19th-century cemeteries, contributing to a better understanding of burial behavior during a period of rapid urban growth and social transformation. The project provides a baseline for future comparative research on 19th-century funerary practices in Central European urban contexts.