Decoding Natufian mortuary practices through the taphonomy of an experimental burial.

ABSTRACT: The intentional burial of the dead emerged around 120,000 years ago, but it was with the Levantine Natufian culture (ca. 15 ka BP) that we see stone-constructed graves in designated burial sites. The Natufian investment of effort and resources prompts an inquiry into the motivations for such elaborate burials. This paper addresses this by presenting an experimental burial of a wild boar in a Natufian-like grave. The experiment provides data on post-depositional processes characteristic of such graves and offers insights into the potential incentives for their construction. The experiment demonstrated that while a constructed grave offers protection, the decomposition, gravity, and larval activity induce various modifications to both the grave and its content, including changes in shape and

SUBMITTER: Alperson-Afil N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12689602 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature