Spatial analyses of three early medieval graveyards in southern Germany: Social status or chronological signal?

•Spatial analyses of Merovingian graveyards reveal chronological clustering.•Grave depth is no indicator of social status in the Early Middle Ages.•Chronology determines grave depth in Merovingian southern Germany.•Merovingian burial depth decreases in later periods. Traditional narratives about ethnic identities, social status and their distinct burial practices played a major role in early medieval archaeology for decades. The spatial composition of graves and the overall structure of Merovingian graveyards were thought to follow specific hierarchical systems – thus reflecting the social status of the deceased. Deep grave pits were considered an indicator for rich burials and high social reputation of the individual. However, spatial analyses of three large-scale Merovinigian cemeteries in southern Germany reveal a dominant chronological signal that controls grave depth and social representation needs. The large-scale cemeteries at Lauchheim 'Wasserfurche', Mengen ‘Hohle/Merzengraben’ and Straubing ‘Bajuwarenstraße’ were analyzed for chronology, grave depth and local topographic conditions to draw conclusions about the link between burial practices and socio-cultural developments between 500 and 700 CE in southern Germany.