Neolithic cave burials: Agency, structure and environment

Description

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. Front matter Half-title page Series page Title page Copyright page Contents List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements The body in the cave In praise of limestone Gestures and positions How do caves act? Origins Written on the body Deep time Temporality, structure and environment Appendix 1 Appendix 2 References Index