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Burials and Graves in Archaeology

By K. Kris Hirst, About.com

Sandstone headstones in St Stevens cemetery, Newtown, Australia.

Sandstone headstones in St Stevens cemetery, Newtown, Australia.

Yvette Bell
Definition: Archaeological research into death includes mortuary behaviors (such as inhumation, cremation, flexed and urn burials, cannibalism), grave goods (artifacts left by the mourners with the bodies), cemetery plans (location, placement, age of use), mortality (causes of death), morbidity (diseases suffered by people in the past), and diet and health.

This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.

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