The Dominican graveyard in Strausberg

Special burials, sickles and their interpretation

Abstract

During heritage protection works from 2006 to 2008 a Dominican monastery graveyard was investigated as presented in the following contribution. The investigation supplied numerous new insights into the topic of traditions surrounding death, superstition and in particular into medieval beliefs. The site is situated only a few kilometres east of the Berlin border. As in many other places the monastery of the Mendicant Friars' Order in Strausberg was erected on a former regal court, and in this case even on top of a known castle, in the 13th century.