inhumation

funeral custom

Learn about this topic in these articles:

major reference

  • burial plaque
    In burial: Inhumation

    Burial in the ground by hollowing out a trench in the earth for the body or covering it with rocks or dirt dates back at least to the Middle Paleolithic Period. Grave burial, or inhumation, may be simple or elaborate. Some Eskimo people cover…

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prehistoric Europe

  • Encyclopædia Britannica: first edition, map of Europe
    In history of Europe: Prestige and status

    …Urnfield Period was replaced by inhumation graves with magnificent displays of wealth. During the Late Hallstatt Period these changes were most dramatically reflected by the group of so-called princely graves in west-central Europe. These were immensely rich burials in large barrows, in which the construction of grave chamber and barrow…

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Roman religion

  • Temple of Diana
    In Roman religion: Sacrifice and burial rites

    …of Rome both cremation and inhumation were practiced simultaneously, but by the 2nd century bce the former had prevailed. Some 300 years later, however, there was a massive reversion to inhumation, probably because of an inarticulate revival of the feeling that the future welfare of the soul depended on comfortable…

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