Practices and Motives In-Class Activity (July 22)

Printable version: ACTIVITY Practices and Motives.docx Download ACTIVITY Practices and Motives.docx

Summary practices and motives handout, for reference: HANDOUT Practices and Motives.docx Download HANDOUT Practices and Motives.docx

What worldview/beliefs, or social, circumstantial, or ecological factors might be influencing this form of burial? Be as specific in your guesses as you can.

1) Archaeologists find numerous natural caves on the north side of a mountain range, each of which has over a hundred skulls placed around the cave, facing the cave entrance. There is no sign of the rest of the associated bones, and there are no grave goods. As far as archaeologists can tell, the people groups who would have been depositing these skulls lived south of the mountain range.

2) Most of the people buried in a certain town are buried in groups in small sealed rooms on the east sides of houses. However, a few female skeletons are found buried in a deep pit in a temple courtyard. These skeletons are missing their jaw bones. Also in the pit, apparently buried just above the women, are the skeletons of vultures with their wings removed.

3) The people of a city are buried in individual graves in cemeteries north and west of town. Some of the people were buried in simple pits, but have weapons, pottery holding the remains of beer and bread, and simple jewelry buried with them. Other people were buried in stone tombs, some of which are decorated on the inside with reliefs showing the dead person making offerings to the gods. These individuals are accompanied by more extensive jewelry, decorated pottery holding the remains of various foods, and objects such as boats, carts, and musical instruments.

4) Archaeologists discover a group grave in a natural cave which has been enlarged using stone-working tools. On a platform to one side are two skeletons, one male and one female, apparently buried fully dressed after being smoked. They are accompanied by jewelry and amulets. Towards the back of the cave is a large pit. Inside the pit are the disarticulated remains of at least eight more people. The smashed pieces of a number of jars and bowls are mixed in with the bones. A number of undamaged jars and bowls are set in front of the pit, all with the residue of food items in them.