From churchyard to urban public cemetery. A preliminary assessment of the funerary spaces in Late Medieval and Early Modern Cluj

This study contextualises funerary practices in Cluj in the early modern period by presenting an overview of known burial grounds and isolated graves, analysed within the framework of the religious and administrative norms. Using historical data and the available archaeological research results, it retraces burial ground dynamics over three centuries, focusing on the gradual relocation of cemeteries to extra-mural areas starting from the second half of the 16th century. The complex interplay between theological doctrines and administrative regulations shaped this transition. Future archaeological research and publications are essential to confirm burial practices, explore deviations from norms, and enhance understanding of societal and mental shifts in attitudes toward death and burial.