Mortuary Archaeology in the 21st Century: Ethical Engagement

Catalog description

Death is a shared human experience; however, it provokes a huge variety of responses; from the ad hoc and hasty burial of the deceased through to elaborate and lengthy funerary rituals. One of the most direct forms of evidence we have for the people who lived thousands of years ago are burials; vestiges of once living people. The burial record, however, raises as many questions as it does answers. Moreover, significant debate exists around what constitutes respectful treatment of the dead. Primarily focusing on case studies from Western Asia, the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, this upper-level undergraduate/graduate seminar will draw upon archaeological and anthropological literature to explore the different ways in which mortuary archaeology can inform us on wider socio-cultural phenomenon. We will also explore the complex and multifaceted ethical issues around studying the dead. What role do (or can) the ancient dead play in contemporary society?