This is the first book-length treatment of Neolithic burial in Britain to focus primarily on cave evidence. It interprets human remains from forty-eight caves and compares them to what we know of Neolithic collective burial elsewhere in Britain and Europe. It reviews the archaeology of these cave burials and treats them as important evidence for the study of mortuary practice. Drawing on evidence from archaeology, anthropology, osteology and cave science, the book demonstrates that cave burial was one of the earliest elements of the British Neolithic. It also shows that Early Neolithic cave-burial practice was highly varied, with many similarities to other burial rites. However, by the Middle Neolithic, a funerary practice which was specific to caves had developed.
Autorentext
Rick Peterson is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Central Lancashire
Klappentext
This is the first book-length study of Neolithic burial in Britain to focus on cave evidence. Interpreting human remains from forty-eight sites, it makes a significant contribution to ongoing debates around burial practices during this period. The book provides a contextual archaeology of the burials, treating them as important evidence for the study of Neolithic mortuary practice generally. Beginning with an assessment of the evidence from the karst regions of Europe, it goes on to provide an up-to-date critical review of the archaeology of Neolithic funerary practice, using the concept of the 'intermediary period' in multi-stage burials to integrate archaeological evidence, cave sedimentology and taphonomy. Neolithic cave environments and the dead bodies within them would have been perceived as active subjects with similar kinds of agency to the living. The book demonstrates that cave burial was one of the earliest elements of the British Neolithic, and that Early Neolithic practice was highly varied, with many similarities to other burial rites. By the Middle Neolithic, however, a funerary practice specific to caves had developed.This book will appeal to students and scholars with an interest in cave archaeology, the archaeology of death and the British and European Neolithic.
Inhalt
1 The body in the cave2 In praise of limestone3 Gestures and positions4 How do caves act?5 Origins6 Written on the body7 Deep time8 Temporality, structure and environmentIndex