ANTH339

How did ancient peoples dispose of their dead, and why? This course examines the various ways in which archaeologists investigate and interpret the death rituals of people in the past. Whether it be a pyramid built for a pharaoh or a pit filled with the anonymous skeletons of the poor and destitute, burial can tell us a lot. For the archaeologist, burials provide much information about beliefs and values; social divisions and status; kinship; health and diet; and identity. Drawing on case studies from a broad span of time periods and cultures, we will look at the evidence of tombs and monuments, inscriptions, grave goods, and skeletal remains to reconstruct how ancient societies confronted death.

GE - GEDE (Gen Ed Diversity Emphasis), GE - T2-INDV (Tier 2 Individuals & Societies), GEED - EPSOC (Gen Ed: EP Social Scientist)