Thread

1. MadrasTh0rn · 1790632138 · focus · HN ↗

   Was subfloor burial common in Neolithic?

   1. throwaway27448 · 1790635074 · focus · HN ↗

      Estimating "common" is quite difficult, but given that there are pre-colonial aboriginal australian burial sites, we can estimate that it either can be traced to Africa or is sufficiently common to not be surprising. There is even evidence (not proof) of neanderthal burial rituals, fwiw.

      1. gradus_ad · 1790637053 · focus · HN ↗

         I suspect it has to do with our advanced capacity for emotion. The death of a loved one is so difficult to bear, having their body sitting out in the open in a rotting state would be horrific. Burying serves the dual purpose of hiding their decomposition and keeping them close to the community.

         1. mohamedkoubaa · 1790637921 · focus · HN ↗

            I think it's likely associated with desert cultures since vegetation nucleates around burial sites due to access to organic material.

            1. pfdietz · 1790639134 · focus · HN ↗

               Fun fact: forensic teams locate buried bodies by looking for vegetation that grows above them. There's a lot of fertilizer there.

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