Neolithic Cave Burials: Agency, Structure and Environment

This book is the first book-length treatment of Neolithic burial in Britain to focus primarily on cave evidence. It reviews the archaeology of these cave burials and treats them as important evidence for the study of mortuary practice. It demonstrates that cave burial was one of the earliest elements of the British Neolithic and that Early Neolithic cave-burial practice was highly varied, with many similarities to other burial rites. By the Middle Neolithic, a funerary practice specific to caves had developed.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 272 pages
\n Publication date: 09 April 2019
\n Publisher: Manchester University Press
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This groundbreaking work is the first comprehensive study of Neolithic burial practices in Britain, focusing primarily on cave evidence. It analyzes human remains from forty-eight caves and compares them to the collective burial customs of the Neolithic period in Britain and Europe. The book provides a comprehensive review of the archaeology of these cave burials, treating them as valuable evidence for understanding mortuary practices. By drawing on evidence from archaeology, anthropology, osteology, and cave science, the book demonstrates that cave burial was one of the earliest components of the British Neolithic. It also reveals that Early Neolithic cave-burial practices were highly diverse, sharing many similarities with other burial rituals. However, by the Middle Neolithic, a distinct funerary practice had emerged that was specific to caves.

This pioneering study offers a fresh perspective on the Neolithic period in Britain, shedding light on the development of burial practices and providing valuable insights into the social and cultural dynamics of the time. Its comprehensive analysis and interdisciplinary approach make it an essential resource for scholars and researchers interested in the Neolithic and early historic periods.

\n Weight: 584g\n
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526118868\n \n