The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial
by Paul Pettitt
Description
This authoritative study traces the origins and development of human burial practices from the Middle Palaeolithic through the Upper Palaeolithic, examining the archaeological evidence for how—and why—early humans treated their dead. It evaluates burial sites, grave goods, body positioning, and ritual behavior while addressing the often-debated question of Neanderthal mortuary practices and their relationship to those of early modern humans. Combining archaeological analysis with insights from anthropology and human evolution, the book explores what funerary behavior reveals about symbolism, social identity, cognition, and changing conceptions of death. Scholarly yet accessible, it offers a comprehensive account of one of the earliest expressions of distinctly human culture.
Available Editions
paperback
Routledge
Published Nov 30, 2008
307 pages
ISBN: 9780415354905
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Details
First Published
2010
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial by Paul Pettitt.