ABSTRACT

The Franks buried their dead in quite shallow graves. As grave goods are comparatively rare, there was no need for the deep burials that are intended to thwart grave-robbing. The body was laid on its back with an east-west orientation, the head to the west, facing upwards. There was often an earthen or stone pillow to support the head. The arms were either clasped across the body or with the left arm across the chest and the right arm across the waist (Bull 1987: 8). In churchyard burials at Tel Jezreel the hands were placed on the pelvis. In Templar burials the right hand was placed over the heart and the left arm extended across the abdomen. Ankles were sometimes placed close together (Bradley 1994:63-4).