Interacting with the Dead: Perspectives on Mortuary Archaeology for the New Millennium

Gordon F. M. Rakita (Editor), Jane E. Buikstra (Editor), Lane A Beck (Editor), Sloan R Williams (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportBook

Abstract

This collection explores the behavioral and social facets of funerary, mortuary, and burial rites in both past and present societies. By utilizing data from around the world and combining recent and ongoing concerns in anthropology, it takes the study of mortuary archaeology to a new and significant level of interdisciplinary research.

Drawing inspiration from ethnohistory, ethnography, bioarchaeology, and sociocultural anthropology, the authors focus on themes of gender, ancestorhood, ritual violence, individual agency, space and placement, and extended and secondary mortuary ceremonialism. They also expand the interdisciplinary focus of mortuary practices and reassess previous anthropological theories. No previously published work on the archaeology of mortuary remains presents such a range of examples of ritual practices through time and around the globe.

Because of its wide scope and interdisciplinary approach, Interacting with the Dead will be indispensable not only to archaeologists and anthropologists but also across the social sciences and humanities and to all who study cross-cultural rituals.
Original languageAmerican English
Place of PublicationGainesville, Florida
Number of pages390
StatePublished - Oct 25 2005

Keywords

  • Mortuary Archaeology
  • burial rites
  • funerary rituals

Disciplines

  • Anthropology
  • History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology
  • Geography

Cite this