Dark-Age Skeletons Uncovered With Buckets on Their Feet And Rings Around Their Necks

<img width="128" height="52" src="https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2024/01/SkullRopeDarkages.jpg" alt="Skull with rope wrapped around neck"/>
What were they trying to stop?

https://www.sciencealert.com/dark-age-skeletons-uncovered-with-buckets-on-their-feet-and-rings-around-their-necks