Death and burial on the Burren : a taphonomic study of three megalithic monuments in County Clare, Ireland
Burial is a highly symbolic activity through which concepts of the world are reflected in the representation and treatment of human remains. While mortuary studies in archaeology and anthropology have had a long history, our understanding of Neolithic societies through mortuary analyses is lacking. This research is a regional comparison of the taphonomy of three megalithic monuments in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland. Through an integration of taphonomy, bioarchaeology, and social archaeological theory, the burial practices of earlier Neolithic societies in Ireland were assessed to understand how societies used burial in socially significant ways. These methods further our understandings of these societies by revealing who, how many, and what types of people were buried here, as well as determine the history of the bones themselves. Finally, what types of burial rites took place and the treatment/manipulation of the dead is also understood through such integration. A comparison of burial practices also lessens the gap in our knowledge of the nature of social interactions and relationships on the Burren. The Parknabinnia chambered tomb, Poulnabrone portal tomb, and Poulawack Linkardstown-type cairn are located
Beckett, J. F.
Death and burial on the Burren : a taphonomic study of three megalithic monuments in County Clare, Ireland. Burial is a highly symbolic activity through which concepts of the world are reflected in the representation and treatment of human remains. While mortuary studies in archaeology and anthropology have had a long history, our understanding of Neolithic societies through mortuary analyses is lacking. This research is a regional comparison of the taphonomy of three megalithic monuments in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland. Through an integration of taphonomy, bioarchaeology, and social archaeological theory, the burial practices of earlier Neolithic societies in Ireland were assessed to understand how societies used burial in socially significant ways. These methods further our understandings of these societies by revealing who, how many, and what types of people were buried here, as well as determine the history of the bones themselves. Finally, what types of burial rites took place and the treatment/manipulation of the dead is also understood through such integration. A comparison of burial practices also lessens the gap in our knowledge of the nature of social interactions and relationships on the Burren. The Parknabinnia chambered tomb, Poulnabrone portal tomb, and Poulawack Linkardstown-type cairn are located
death_burial taphonomic study megalithic_monument county ireland burial highly symbolic activity concept world reflect representation treatment human_remain mortuary study archaeology_anthropology long_history neolithic societies mortuary analysis lack regional comparison taphonomy megalithic_monument county ireland integration taphonomy bioarchaeology social archaeological_theory burial_practice early neolithic societies ireland assess society use burial socially significant way method understandings society reveal many types people bury well determine history bone themselves finally type burial_rite take_place treatment manipulation dead also understood integration comparison burial_practice also gap_knowledge nature social_interaction relationship tomb tomb type cairn locate