Eaves-drip burials in the Early Middle Ages: A special burial place for the unbaptised children?

The excavation of skeletal human remains from St. Dionysius in Bremerhaven-Wulsdorf showed a strong association between infant burials and their location in and around the church. Accumulations of young children close to a church and its corners are repeatedly reported and are commonly defined as "eaves-drip" burials. Although there are no early medieval written sources for this specific burial practice, the proximity of the graves of small children to the sites of early Christian churches is noticeable. Above all, the temporal context plays an important role in the interpretation of these burials, since it is questionable whether the intention to baptise the graves with rainwater from the eaves was the same for the Early Middle Ages as it was for the High and Post Middle Ages. The frequently observed relationship between locality and infant bones must not be regarded as an ordinary burial since the choice of burial place already indicates a special position within the graveyard. Particularly regarding the progress of Christianisation and thus the assertion of the Christian belief system in the early phases, it is essential to reflect on the people's real acceptance of Christian religious practices and rituals. It is therefore crucial to consider the circumstances and belief systems of the particular era before associating eaves-drip burials with the unbaptised child.