What was a common burial practice for the lower classes during the Great Plague?

Mass graves became a common burial practice for the lower classes during the Great Plague due to the overwhelming number of deaths and the urgency to dispose of bodies. The plague led to a high mortality rate, resulting in a situation where traditional burial methods were impractical. Mass graves allowed for the rapid interment of multiple individuals, minimizing health risks associated with decomposing bodies left above ground.

This method also reflected social inequalities of the time; the lower classes often lacked the resources for individual burials, which might have included coffins and private ceremonies, both of which were more typical among the wealthier classes. In addition, the urgency caused by the disease meant that funerals were often simplified and conducted without the same rituals or care that might have been afforded under normal circumstances.

The other practices listed, such as burial in lead coffins, private ceremonies, or burial at sea, were not typical for the lower classes during this period, primarily due to economic and logistical reasons. Lead coffins were expensive, private ceremonies typically reserved for the affluent, and burial at sea was more appropriate for specific circumstances, such as maritime deaths, rather than for widespread local epidemic deaths.