The people of the Cambridge Austin friars

The Austin friars in Cambridge was an important religious institution between the late thirteenth and mid-sixteenth centuries. Excavations have revealed well-dated and contextualised burials associated with the friary, as well as a range of material culture. The burials have been subject to a wide range of analyses including osteology, palaeopathology, stable isotopes, ancient DNA and geometric morphometrics. Significantly the distinction between clothed and shrouded burials allows members of the Augustinian order and the laity to be identified. This represents the best-understood published group of burials from an Austin friars in the British Isles and emphasises the importance of nuanced interpretation, as burial at friaries was a structured and multi-local phenomenon. These burials and other material can be interpreted in terms of both mendicant ideals and anti-fraternal criticisms.

剑桥的奥古斯丁隐修院（Austin Friars）是13世纪末至16世纪中期的重要宗教机构。考古发掘出土了可精准定年且具备明确埋藏背景的、与该修道院相关的墓葬，以及多类物质文化遗存。这批墓葬已接受多维度分析，涵盖骨骼学（osteology）、古病理学（palaeopathology）、稳定同位素分析、古代DNA（ancient DNA）以及几何形态测量学（geometric morphometrics）等研究方法。尤为关键的是，依据墓葬是否身着衣物还是仅以殓布包裹的差异，可区分出奥古斯丁修会（Augustinian order）成员与普通平信徒（laity）。该墓葬群是不列颠群岛范围内已发表的奥古斯丁隐修院墓葬中研究最为透彻的一组，同时凸显了精细化解读的重要性——修道院墓葬本就是兼具系统性与跨地域特征的复杂现象。这批墓葬及其他相关遗存，可同时从托钵修会理念与反修士团体批判的视角进行阐释。