a) Do burial practices and mortuary rituals better represent social structure and wealth differences or beliefs and attitudes towards death in ancient and contemporary cultures?
b) According to some researchers, evidence for cannibalism exists in mortuary remains from certain cultures around the world. What is this evidence and how do researchers interpret it differently?
c) Trace the history of mortuary research from the work of early cultural anthropologists to recent studies by anthropologists or archaeologists. Providing examples, how have mortuary studies changed over time and why?
d) Choosing one area of the world, show how ancient peoples create their own cultural landscape, or territory, by linking monuments and burial remains with their living sites.
e) Choose one ancient cemetery, or burial ground, and provide a thorough analysis of both the burials and their contents. What kinds of social or ideological evidence can you provide about these ancient peoples?
f) Why do archaeologists study tombstones and cemeteries of historically recent societies? Using examples, show what kinds of information this research provides.
g) Using skeletal evidence from an ancient cemetery site, provide a thorough osteological (skeletal) analysis of the people showing the population structure, health or any other biological information you can extract.
h) According to anthropologist Robert Hertz, the corpse in a funerary ritual provides a symbol for the state and journey of the deceased’s soul. Using a culture of your
choice, illustrate how their funerary beliefs and practices may reflect Hertz’s statement.
Sample Solution
