Engaging with the Dead adopts a cross-disciplinary, archaeologically
focused, approach to explore a variety of themes linked to the
interpretation of mortuary traditions, death and the ways of disposing
of the dead. Nineteen papers highlight the current vitality of 'death
studies' and the potential of future research and discoveries.
contributors explore changing beliefs and practices over time,
considering how modern archaeology, ethnography and historical records
can aid our interpretations of the past, as well as considering how past
practices may have influenced understandings of death and dying within
the modern world. It is clear that there are very significant variations
in the quantity of dead that appear in the archaeological record over
time, and the contributions to this volume attempt to understand why
that might be the case. By bringing together papers from a variety of
specialists working within Europe and the Near East, we investigate the
pivotal role of death studies in the 21st century, providing a case for
the retention of human remains in archaeological collections. Engaging
with the Dead aims to set period specific contributions within a broader
perspective and integrates papers from bioarchaeologists, theologists,
textual specialists, as well as archaeologists. It provides an in-depth
introduction to the multitude of ways in which the mortuary record can
be interrogated and interpreted and explores the role of archaeology and
theology within contemporary social studies. This volume challenges our
current understanding and conceptualisation of mortuary practices in the
ancient and contemporary world.
