Burial Practices

TREATMENT OF THE CORPSE

• Large Bone piles and other evidence of secondary burial in the Middle Bronze and Iron Age
• Skeletons lying in the supine position placed in graves, cists and anthropoid coffins in the Late Bronze and Iron Age
• Evidence of mummification in bitumen
• Cremation urn and pyre burials in the Iron Age

GRAVE GOODS

• Presence of adornment items and weapons in burials
• Presence of games and games boards in Late Bronze and early Iron Age burials
• Evidence of wine and libation offerings in Late Bronze Age and early Iron Age

Anthropological studies of other cultures show that burial practices have more to do with fashion than ethnicity and vary among an ethnic group according to age, sex and social status. With this observation in mind, examine this representative sample mainly from the cemetery at Tell es-Sa'idiyeh. Also, take a look at Tomb 90 Beth Shan and the more detailed information on T101 from Tell es-Sa'idiyeh. These burials together provide good corpus for the types of practices found elsewhere throughout Palestine at the end of the Bronze and beginning of the Iron Age.

Notice the position of the corpse.

Pay particular attention to the placement of hands and legs.

Do you see any variation according to age?

Take a look at the artifacts assoicated with each burial type. In what ways do the number and distributi on of artifacts vary according to age or sex?

Among the adult burials, do you see any variance in number and types of artifacts as well as treatment to the corporal remains that can be attributed to social status.

Last, you might find it useful to compare practices ith samples from the Middle Bronze and Iron Ages. Even a general perusal of the material will show some significant difference in the treatment of the corpse. More subtle differences in the number and types of artifacts would become apparent as you examine those tombs more closely.

INFANTS AND CHILDREN