Jar Burials Research Articles

Preliminary site report of a stone jar burial in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

For nearly a century, questions have remained as to the purpose and age of the Plain of Jars in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Scholars have generally argued that these megaliths served a mortuary function, either as symbolic monuments or receptacles for the dead. However, due to a paucity of mortuary evidence associated with the jars, it has been difficult to conclusively argue either way. Aside from small amounts of cremated human bone fragments found within a limited number of jars, to date no substantive human burials have been found inside a stone jar across this vast megalithic landscape. Additionally, the stone jars are thought to date to the Southeast Asian Iron Age, between ca. 500 BCE-500 CE, with ritual activity continuing into the 13th century CE. This paper provides the first substantial evidence that the jars were used to contain the deceased for either primary or secondary burials during the 9th to 12th century CE.

Reconstructing the history of Kition: new evidence from recent excavations

Adapted from the keynote lecture delivered on the occasion of the 18th PoCA conference in Basel, the article concentrates on three archaeological assemblages from recent excavations of the French Mission at Kition (Larnaka). Each assemblage corresponds to a transitional period: an infant jar burial illustrates the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age period; a fortification wall the late Classical-early Hellenistic period; a well with a water-lifting device the late Roman period. The three case studies give the opportunity to question the complex urban history of the city.

A POSSIBLE PARTHIAN-ERA ANAHITA SANCTUARY AT RABANA IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ

Rabana-Merquly was a major regional centre of the Parthian era in the central Zagros highlands. This article explores the hypothesis that the Rabana intramural settlement was in part a ‘sanctuary’ devoted to the ancient Persian water goddess Anahita, based upon extensive architectural augmentations around an ephemeral waterfall, combined with the nearby construction of a probable fire altar. Two jar burials excavated in 2022 inside an adjacent building show this complex also functioned as a mausoleum. Carbon-14 dating of these cremation deposits supports occupation of the site during the second to first centuries B.C. Twin rock reliefs at the entrances to Rabana-Merquly indicate that the fortress was likely associated with the ruling dynasty of Adiabene, a vassal kingdom of the Parthian (or Arsacid) Empire in north-east Mesopotamia. A further link to Natounissarokerta/Natounia on the Kapros is suggested by the iconography of that city's coinage, which features an obverse image of a goddess, potentially a hybrid representation of Anahita-Tyche.

On a Painted Burial Jar from Tigranakert of Artsakh

Abstract The article is devoted to one of the jar burials discovered in 2018 during excavations of the Eastern tomb field of Tigranakert of Artsakh. That is a gorgeous painted karas with ornamental and figurative bands of various motifs painted in red on a light background. The central and widest part of the vessel bears a depiction of a deer hunting scene happening on both sides of a dense tree with scattered branches. An infantryman and two horsemen armed with long spears and accompanied by hunting dogs, chase a doe and a deer. Hunting scene has been popular and widespread since ancient times. Deer hunting scene is found among the petroglyphs of the Armenian Highlands, on the bronze belts and other decorative-applied works of art from the ancient sites of Armenia and neighboring countries. This theme is especially prevalent in Achaemenid glyptic, in the fine arts of the Classical period, and in the toreutics of the Sasanian period.

Postmortem treatment of preterm infants at the Gangshang site during the Late Neolithic period, Shandong Province, China

AbstractJar burial is a particular burial practice generally used in the Neolithic period of China. However, the rarity of finding prenatal individuals limits the ability to study their treatment in jar burial contexts. In this paper, to study the postmortem treatment of this specific age further, we focus on three jar burials of infant individuals excavated in 2021 at the Gangshang site in China, where the skeletal remains were relatively well preserved. The skeletal remains of three well‐preserved individuals are presented into inverted ceramic tripods near the residential area and with a crouched posture. In terms of this condition, we apply the osteometric method to estimate the range and mean of age at death for each individual investigated. Meanwhile, we use micro‐computed tomography (CT) scans to help judge the degree of microbial bioerosion. Besides, histological analysis on skeletal remains combined with the Oxford Histological Index (OHI) assessment allows us to estimate the developmental stage at the time of death by analyzing the results of micro‐CT scans. By using osteometric methods, the results show that the gestational age of the three individuals is 22–26, 24–28, and 22–26 weeks, respectively. The results of the micro‐CT scans indicate that all three fetuses died shortly after birth, or had died in their mother's uterus before birth, with the OHI score of 5. Moreover, we indeed observe infant skeleton remains with no bacterial bioerosion, indicating that it is effective using this method to judge the developmental stage at the time of death with a specific taphonomic environment in the Gangshang site of the Dawenkou culture period. Combined with the placement of the jars in which the three infants were buried, it is believed that this unique placement method was intentional and specific to the infant deaths. These results are instructive for exploring the postmortem treatment of dead infants by ancient residents of the Dawenkou culture period (4200 bc–2600 bc) in Shandong Province, China, and the significance and possible causes of the unique burial type.

늑도 거주 집단의 성격 연구

This study attempted to approach the characteristics of the Neuk Island group by analyzing the characteristics of the entire human skeletons excavated from Neuk Island During the analysis of burial facility, direction of burial, and posture of body, it was confinned that throughout the IC and A district mostly featured the existence of multiple jar burials, graves with structures installed, burials directing towards northeast and east, extended burial, and general usage of supination. But, C district shows differences in comprehensive fimeral rite from those two districts. Scarcity of jar burials, absence of structure built graves, irregularity of burial direction, and also the focus of flexed burial. As in analysis of artifacts, it was clear that there was hierarchy differentiation, due to the existence of the skeletons buried with artifacts that are marlcedly different from others, and superior accessories that were buried with specific minors. Also, according to the comparison of cranial measurements with other areas, IC and A district had similar characteristics and groups with skeleton group of Korean peninsula, but C district has difference in characteristics from those two and groups with Jomon People and Jomon type Yayoi People. In conclusion, the analysis ofNeuk Island Skeleton shows that I C and A district were the settlement groups ofNeuk Island but C district which shows differences in characteristics and funeral rite was group of Yayoi People stayed temporarily for trades.

The death of infants in Early Iron Age Cyprus. A jar burial from Kition-Bamboula

During recent excavations of the French Archaeological Mission at Kition-Bamboula, in modern day Larnaka, Cyprus, an infant jar burial was discovered. It was found under a floor layer in a domestic context, and is dated to the beginning of the Late Cypriot IIIB period (end of the 12th– early 11th century BC). This jar burial is part of a series which seems to be attested, at least in the present state of documentation, only in eastern Cyprus (Enkomi, Salamis and, on a lesser scale, Kition) during a period that spans the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age. The Kition-Bamboula jar burial is notable for its wealth (jewellery, vase offerings, and food deposit). This article proposes a detailed and multidisciplinary study of the burial, as well as a comprehensive consideration of the treatment of infants’ dead bodies in Early Iron Age Cyprus.

Wooden Constructions in Bronze and Iron Age Burials in Japan and Korea

Throughout the period from 300 BC to 700 AD, significant changes took place in the life of population of Japanese Archipelago and Korean Peninsula, which were reflected by the burial rite. Specifically, the practice of using wood in mounded burials became particularly common. Such numerous instances in both regions are analyzed, the placement and several elements of wooden structures, accompanying artifacts, sorts of wood etc. are described in this work. The changes in burial rite practiced in ancient Japan can be seen. During the Yayoi period (300 BC to 300 AD), jar burials gave way to those with wooden structures in Western Japan regions closest to the mainland. It’s established that traditions co-occurred with innovations, as seen from the fact that such structures were coated with clay. Further development took place during the Kofun period (300–538 AD), when first log coffins appeared, then composite coffins, and eventually stone coffins. Similar burial practice existed in Korea earlier than in Japan, the peak of this tradition coinciding with the period of Three Kingdoms (200–600 AD). The comparison of the ways the tradition evolved in both regions suggests that it had originated on the mainland, was introduced to Japan by successive immigration waves, and was then adapted to local conditions.

Early Metal Age interactions in Island Southeast Asia and Oceania: jar burials from Aru Manara, northern Moluccas

New evidence from the rockshelter site of Aru Manara, on the island of Morotai, in the northern Moluccas, East Indonesia, suggests an earlier than previously assumed date for extensive interactions between this area of Southeast Asia and the wider Pacific. Shared mortuary customs and associated ceramic grave goods, along with other practices such as megalithic traditions, appear to start in the Late Neolithic, but become more widespread and consolidated in the Early Metal Age. Excavations at Aru Manara show that the northern Moluccas may have figured prominently in the newly established network of interaction evidenced at this time, making it an important location in the spread and dispersal of people and culture throughout Island Southeast Asia and into Oceania.

The additional discussion of Graves of the Early Bronze Age in The Korean Peninsula

본고에서는 청동기시대 전기의 분묘에 대한 다섯 가지 논점을 제안하면서 필자의 견해와 함께 앞으로의 자료 증가에 대비하려는 목적에서 작성되었다. 첫째, 직립구연호를 이용한 옹관묘의 시기에 대해서는 여러 의견들이 있다. 논란이 있는 사례들 가운데는 후기로 단정하기 어려운 것 도 있고, 담양 성산리유적의 직립구연호가 옹관이라면 전기의 직립 구연호 옹관의 존재는 인정되어야 할 것이다. 둘째, 현재로서 조기의 분묘는 확인되지 않고 있는데, 신석기시대부터 있어 왔고 청동기시대에 더욱 활발하였던 분묘 축조의 습속이 유독 이 시기에만 없었던 것일까? 이에 대해서는 남한 청동기시대의 개시와 관련이 깊은 중국 동북지역∼압록강유역과 관련된 분묘가 現 在不在일 가능성, 남한 在地의 선택적 수용 등에 의해 이들 지역의 분묘는 탈락되었을 가능성, 현재 확인되기 어려운 다른 형태의 葬法 으로 변화하였을 가능성 등을 추측해 볼 수 있다. 셋째, 전기 분묘의 원류에 대해서는 火葬으로 보이는 습속이 확인된다는 점에서 남한지역과 중국 동북지역과의 관련성을 생각할 수 있으며, 가지무늬토기의 원류와 함께 광주 역동에서 강상묘 출토품과 유사한 이형청동기가 출토된 점에서도 양 지역의 관련성을 엿볼 수 있다. 넷째, 대부분의 전기 분묘는 전기 후반에 해당하며, 전기 전반의 분묘는 극소수에 불과하다. 전기 전반에 분묘가 축조되었음은 인정되지만, 본격적인 분묘 축조 사회의 개시가 전기 후반이라는 점은 변함없다. 다섯째, 전기 분묘의 유적 내 배치양상을 통해 대형주거 한 동과 중소형주거 두 동이 분묘 한 기를 반원상으로 에워싸듯이 배치된 모습을 엿볼 수 있다. 이때 주거군의 성격은 아직 알 수 없지만 전기 분묘에 대한 새로운 배치상을 고려하면서 類例의 증가를 기대해 보고 싶다.The purpose of this paper is to propose five issues about graves of the early Bronze Age. First, there are many opinions about period of jar burial using straight-necked jar. Among the controversial cases, it is difficult to conclude that it is a later period, and if straight-necked jar of Seongsan-ri site is jar burial, the existence of the early Bronze Age jar burial using straight-necked jar should be acknowledged. Second, grave at the time of the beginning of the Bronze Age has not been investigated. In this regard, there is a possibility that grave related to the northeastern region of China~Yalu River, which is closely related to the start of the South Korea Bronze Age, may be discovered in the future. On the one hand, there may be some form of burial that can not be recognized at this time. Third, it is a problem of the origin of graves of the early Bronze Age. Since cremation is confirmed, the relation between South Korea and Northeast China can be considered. In addition, the relationship between the two areas can be seen in the painted pottery and bronze tool. Fourth, most of graves of the early Bronze Age are in the latter half of the early Bronze Age. Therefore, graves are built in earnest from this time. Fifth, the new placement appearance of grave and settlements is confirmed. At this time, I do not know the personality of settlements yet, but I would like to expect an increase in the number of cases.

Royal Court Tombs, Burial Rituals and Practices in the Middle Elamite Period

Received Dec 2015 Received in revised Feb 2016 Published in March 2016 Archeologically, burial rituals and practices provide valuable information for the remaking of various life styles in the ancient communities. Such practices and rites are social ceremonies, varying in accordance to the social rank of the deceased. In the present article, the royal court burial rites of the Middle Elamite period and the related ceremonies would be revised. The objective of the research is to re-create the royal court burial rituals of the aforesaid era. To the date, excavations in Susa, Haft Tepe, and Chogha Zanbil have provided evidences of the royal court burial ceremonies. Archeological and linguistic documents are compared and analyzed in the present study. In this period, burial types span from plain ones to burial in earthenware, jar burial, coffin burial and vaulted tomb burial; however, the current paper is centred mainly around the royal court method dedicated to the king, royal family and the court. The excavated evidence prove that ceremonies were held at the burial of the rulers. The practice in question demonstrates deep rooted belief in the immaterial world during the Middle Elamite period where corpses were buried in brick-built vaulted tombs.

THE BABA JILAN GRAVEYARD NEAR NURABAD, PISH-I KUH, LURISTAN: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

A graveyard at Baba Jilan in Dilfan province, Pish-i Kuh, Luristan, was reportedly looted in 2005. It was investigated by the local branch of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation from 2006 to 2008. Cist tombs and jar burials were discovered and isolated objects and sherds were collected from the plundered areas. Noteworthy among these are a Luristan iron mask pommel sword, the first ever-provenanced sword of this type, and a bronze fingerring with the image of Ahura Mazda in a winged circle. These finds suggest that the area may have been used as a graveyard from the late Iron Age II onwards.

청동기시대 ‘전기 옹관묘’ 재고

청동기시대 옹관묘는 일찍이 ‘송국리형묘제’의 범주에 포함되어 청동기시대 중기의 묘제로 인식되어 왔다. 하지만 일각에서는 청동기시대 ‘전기 옹관묘’의 존재 가능성을 꾸준히 제기해왔다. 따라서 본고에서는 소위 ‘전기 옹관묘’로 규정된 바 있는 옹관묘의 사례들에 대한 비판적 검토를 시도하였다. 제Ⅱ장에서는 먼저 ‘전기 옹관묘’로 규정된 바 있는 옹관묘 출토 유적에 대해 살펴보았으며, 특히 토기의 형태에만 초점을 맞춘 그간의 시각에서 벗어나 옹관묘의 공반 유구에 대해 자세히 검토하였다. 이를 통해 토기형태를 제외하고는 ‘전기 옹관묘’를 청동기시대 전기 무덤으로 비정할만한 근거가 마땅히 없음을 확인하였고, 그 결과 ‘전기 옹관묘’를 청동기시대 전기의 문화 요소가 잔존해 있는 청동기시대 중기의 무덤으로 보아야 한다고 판단하였다. 제Ⅲ장에서는 청동기시대 중기의 고고학적 맥락에서 보이는 전기적 토기 요소의 존속양상에 대해 살펴보았다. 대부분의 ‘전기 옹관묘’가 분포하는 호남지역에서는 공열토기와 구순각목토기가 중기까지 존속하는 반면, 이중구연토기는 청동기시대 중기에 들어와 대체로 단절된 것으로 파악하였다. 한편, ‘전기 옹관묘’에 주로 사용된 직립구연호의 경우, 호남지역에서는 송국리형주거지의 수용 이후에도 사용되었음이 확인되었다. 다만, 직립구연호가 청동기시대 전기에 옥내 저장을 담당했던 저장용기인 만큼, 식량저장체계의 혁신적 변화가 일어난 청동기시대 중기에 들어와서 그것이 지속적으로 제작되었을 가능성이 낮다고 보았다. 그리고 그 대안으로 청동기시대 중기의 고고학적 맥락에서 등장하는 직립구연호가 전세품일 가능성을 제기하였다. 마지막으로 제Ⅳ장에서는 ‘전세품’(傳世品)에 관한 서양 고고학의 논의를 살펴봄으로써 ‘전세’ 현상의 실체에 대해 접근하였다. 특히 특정 유물이 어떤 이유에서든지 유난히 오랜 기간 보유되어 그것의 ‘예상되는 시간적 맥락’에서 일탈한 경우를 넓은 의미에서의 ‘전세품’으로 규정하였다. 아울러 저장용 토기와 같은 평범한 유물도 전세품이 될 수 있음을 강조하였다. 특히 청동기시대 전기의 직립구연호가 실제로 2~3세대에 걸쳐 사용될 수 있었음을 토기 수명에 관한 민족지조사의 연구사례들을 통해 예증하였다. 이러한 논의를 통해 ‘전기 옹관묘’에 대한 재검토를 시도하고, 또한 고고학 자료의 ‘전세’ 양상에 대한 해석적 가능성을 타진하였다.

Glass Beads from 15th-17th CenturyCEJar Burial Sites in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains

A total of 74 glass beads, included as grave goods in 15th–17th century CE jar burials from Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, were analysed using laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS). Several glass types were identified, including two subtypes of high-alumina mineral soda glass, and lead–potash glass. The final glass type represents a newly discovered and previously unidentified type of high-alumina soda glass, with high magnesia (m-Na–Al Mg>). This study represents the first glass data from the mid-second millennium CE from Cambodia and sheds light on the multiple long-distance maritime exchange networks in which the upland people buried in the jars were participating.

Early Neolithic jar burials in southeast Europe: a comparative approach

A typical product of early farming symbolism, jar burial, appeared in the beginning of southeast European Neolithization. Early jar burial development in south-east Europe displays two distinct chronological levels: an early Neolithic core area in the Struma and Vardar valleys and the western Rhodope, and later, late/final Neolithic and/or early Chalcolithic – depending on local terminology – manifestations ‘scattered’ in various places in the study area. It is the early chronological level of jar burial distribution that will be considered here in relation to the first expressions of these mortuary practices in Central Anatolia, in order to throw some light on the specifics of their origins and variability.

Genealogy in the ground: observations of jar burials of the Yayoi period, northern Kyushu, Japan

The author finds that cemeteries in early first millennium Japan reflect the associations of family with land. The burial parties of a core settlement could be seen to be referring to earlier burials in a dynastic or genealogical sequence, while a secondary settlement developed its burial ground in a disordered sequence. Thus Koji Mizoguchi shows that the differences between the haves and have-nots extended their having, or not having, a history.

Human Remains from Middle Bronze Age Burials at Sidon, Lebanon: the 2001 Season

This report is concerned with fragmented skeletal remains dating to the Middle Bronze Age that were excavated in the 2001 campaign at Sidon, Lebanon. From 19 discrete burial units a total of 31 individuals were identified and assessed as to their biological characteristics. The majority of adults who could be sexed were male, many of them strongly built. The overall age distribution in this sample is characterised by a pattern commonly found in prehistoric assemblages, with high mortality during infancy and early childhood and a peak in adult mortality during early adulthood. There is a conspicuous occurrence of unusual dental traits. Jar burials, all found with remains of sub-adult individuals, represent a burial practice applied to children of a wide age range. Many burials are associated with faunal remains, mostly of sheep or goats, but also of large ungulates.

14C age determination for human bones during the Yayoi period – the calibration ambiguity around 2400 BP and the marine reservoir effect

14C ages for Japanese prehistoric samples from the Latest Jomon period to the early Yayoi period have a calibration ambiguity for dates around 2400 BP. It is also necessary to correct for the marine reservoir effect on 14C ages of human bone samples from people who consumed marine food as a protein source. The Ohtomo site in western Japan, is a cemetery site used from the end of the Latest Jomon period to the Kofun period, provide a useful archaeological chronology. Human bones found in dolmen burials, jar burials and cist burials. In this study, we determined the 14C ages of human bone samples and calculated the marine reservoir effect, using diet analysis based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Diet analysis showed that these people obtained from 40% to 60% of their protein from marine sources. Their 14C ages with calibration and marine reservoir correction were serially matched with the archaeological chronology.

A Middle Bronze Age Cylinder Seal from the Jar Burial F167 at Tell Ahmar

A Middle Bronze Age Cylinder Seal from the Jar Burial F167 at Tell Ahmar

The practice of jar burial in the Mun and Chi valleys

The practice of jar burial in the Mun and Chi valleys