The average age at death in medieval times was quite low – about 35 years old. However, this is due to the high infant death rate. Skeletal evidence from the cemetery of St Nicholas Shambles (1000s-1100s in date) suggests 38% of people buried there died before they were 25. If people made it into adulthood they could live reasonably long lives.
The rituals around burial changed in the medieval period. Before the conversion to Christianity, the Anglo-Saxons buried their dead with grave goods like jewellery, weapons and pottery. Christians were buried more simply, though their decorated gravestones often survive.