ABSTRACT
In this chapter, it is argued that medieval women played a significant role in religious and devotional practices involving the use of money and money-offerings. Historical and art historical evidence and archaeological finds from medieval churches provide ample evidence for a discussion of gender-specific issues relating to mass and liturgical rituals. The separation of men and women in the south and the north sides of the nave in village churches is discussed from historical and archaeological evidence such as coins, pins and beads. The Gotlandic church in Bunge provides a case study, with finds of pins and beads from the women’s side compared to the men’s side recorded in a ratio of 9:1. Similarly, there are also more coin finds recorded on the north side of the nave, the women’s side. The coin finds from medieval churches add up to tens of thousands, each find reflecting individual acts of worship, a significant portion of which may be interpreted as the result of women using money in religion and devotional practice.
