The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Archaeology
Cover of the book The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial by Paul Pettitt, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Paul Pettitt ISBN: 9781136699092
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: December 20, 2010
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Paul Pettitt
ISBN: 9781136699092
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: December 20, 2010
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Humans are unique in that they expend considerable effort and ingenuity in disposing of the dead. Some of the recognisable ways we do this are visible in the Palaeolithic archaeology of the Ice Age. The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial takes a novel approach to the long-term development of human mortuary activity – the various ways we deal with the dead and with dead bodies. It is the first comprehensive survey of Palaeolithic mortuary activity in the English language.

Observations in the modern world as to how chimpanzees behave towards their dead allow us to identify ‘core’ areas of behaviour towards the dead that probably have very deep evolutionary antiquity. From that point, the palaeontological and archaeological records of the Pliocene and Pleistocene are surveyed. The core chapters of the book survey the mortuary activities of early hominins, archaic members of the genus Homo, early Homo sapiens, the Neanderthals, the Early and Mid Upper Palaeolithic, and the Late Upper Palaeolithic world.

Burial is a striking component of Palaeolithic mortuary activity, although existing examples are odd and this probably does not reflect what modern societies believe burial to be, and modern ways of thinking of the dead probably arose only at the very end of the Pleistocene. When did symbolic aspects of mortuary ritual evolve? When did the dead themselves become symbols? In discussing such questions, The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial offers an engaging contribution to the debate on modern human origins. It is illustrated throughout, includes up-to-date examples from the Lower to Late Upper Palaeolithic, including information hitherto unpublished.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Humans are unique in that they expend considerable effort and ingenuity in disposing of the dead. Some of the recognisable ways we do this are visible in the Palaeolithic archaeology of the Ice Age. The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial takes a novel approach to the long-term development of human mortuary activity – the various ways we deal with the dead and with dead bodies. It is the first comprehensive survey of Palaeolithic mortuary activity in the English language.

Observations in the modern world as to how chimpanzees behave towards their dead allow us to identify ‘core’ areas of behaviour towards the dead that probably have very deep evolutionary antiquity. From that point, the palaeontological and archaeological records of the Pliocene and Pleistocene are surveyed. The core chapters of the book survey the mortuary activities of early hominins, archaic members of the genus Homo, early Homo sapiens, the Neanderthals, the Early and Mid Upper Palaeolithic, and the Late Upper Palaeolithic world.

Burial is a striking component of Palaeolithic mortuary activity, although existing examples are odd and this probably does not reflect what modern societies believe burial to be, and modern ways of thinking of the dead probably arose only at the very end of the Pleistocene. When did symbolic aspects of mortuary ritual evolve? When did the dead themselves become symbols? In discussing such questions, The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial offers an engaging contribution to the debate on modern human origins. It is illustrated throughout, includes up-to-date examples from the Lower to Late Upper Palaeolithic, including information hitherto unpublished.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The Politics of Apolitical Culture by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book An Artless Art - The Zen Aesthetic of Shiga Naoya by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Transpacific Revolutionaries by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Early Modern Encounters with the Islamic East by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book The Global Economic Crisis in Latin America by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Psychological, Political, and Cultural Meanings of Home by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Cities and Suburbs by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Language and Identity in the Middle East and North Africa by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Digital Analytics for Marketing by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Woody Guthrie by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book The Truth About Our Schools by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book From Generation to Generation by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book The Future of Coaching by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Goethe’s Path to Creativity by Paul Pettitt
Cover of the book Dance Education around the World by Paul Pettitt
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy