Death and transformation: Burial practice and societal change

This book brings discussions concerning change in past societies into the realm of mortuary archaeology by exploring the relationship between burial practices and societal change in the past. This is achieved by presenting a series of case studies from different times and places which showcase the diversity of ways in which archaeologists can think about and explore this relationship. We offer a variety of approaches and emphasise the significance of burials as sources for, and agents of, societal change. The book highlights the centrality of burials as archaeological material for understanding societal change, critically reassessing past approaches, and suggesting new ways of understanding the relationship between burial practice and change in archaeology. Particular attention is given to archaeological periods where change was especially intense – so-called transition periods – but we also explore and highlight change within periods that have often received less attention. Key questions that the book addresses are: How do burial practices reflect and affect societal change? How do burial practices relate to narratives of change?