The archaeology of the dead : Lectures in archaeothanatology / Henri Duday, translated by Anna Maria Cipriani and John Pearce.

Based on an intensive specialist course in burial archaeology given by the author in Rome Oct. 18 to Nov. 6, 2004.

Translated from the Italian. Original title is " Lezioni di archeotanatologia ".

Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction -- 1. Preliminary discussion -- 1.1. Funerary archaeology and corpse taphonomy -- 1.2. Different types of funerary deposits -- 1.3. Primary and secondary burials -- 2. Individual primary burial : the pre-Neolithic burial at Bonifacio (Corsica) -- 2.1. Anatomical terminology -- 2.2. Differences between the original burial and the form of the deposit observed at excavation -- 2.2.1. Flattening of the rib cage -- 2.2.2. Rotation of the head -- 2.3. The ritual dimension of excavation observations -- 3. Individual primary burials : additional aspects -- 3.1. The arrangement of offerings and elements of ornament and dress -- 3.2. The archaeology of funerary behaviour or the archaeology of rites? -- 3.3. Identifying a primary burial through the analysis of anatomical connections -- 4. Relationships between the internal and external environments of the corpse (I) : the analysis of environmental conditions within the burial -- 4.1. Decomposition in a void -- 4.2. Decomposition in a filled space -- 4.3. The Grotte de Foissac : some observations on taphonomy in an underground environment -- 5. Relationships between the internal and external environments of the corpse (II) -- 5.1. 'Verticalization' of the clavicles -- 5.2. Voids that form around the corpse -- 5.3. The filling of the internal volume of the corpse -- 5.3.1. The chronology of filling the volume freed by the decay of soft tissue -- 5.3.1.1. Delayed filling -- 5.3.1.2. Progressive filling -- 5.3.2. The mechanisms of filling the volume freed by the decay of soft tissue -- 6. Burials of babies who die within the first six months of life -- 7. Double burials and 'reductions'. Reflections on the notion of burial. Palaeopathology and archaeology -- 7.1. Burials containing the remains of two individuals -- 7.1.1. Asynchronous deposits : 'reductions' and related acts -- 7.1.2. Double burials -- 7.2. Reflections on the notion of burial -- 7.3. Palaeopathology and archaeology -- 7.3.1. Documenting a physical handicap -- 7.3.2. Determining the cause of death -- 7.3.3. Biological calcifications and ossifications -- 8. Secondary burials -- 9. Funerary complexes (I) -- 9.1. Cemeteries and necropolises -- 9.2. Multiple burials -- 10. Funerary complexes (II) : collective burials, the karst shaft of La Boucle at Corconne (I) -- 11. Funerary complexes (III) : collective burials, the karst shaft of La Boucle at Corconne (II) -- 12. Funerary complexes (IV) : collective burials, the dolmen of Les Peirières at Villedubert -- 13. Cremation -- 13.1. Secondary cremation deposits -- 13.2. Anthropological parameters in cremation burials -- 13.3. Quantifying the human remains in the tomb -- 13.4. Primary cremation deposits -- Conclusions and perspectives.

Henri Duday is Director of Research for CNRS at the University of Bordeaux. The Archaeology of the Dead is based on an intensive specialist course in burial archaeology given by Duday in Rome in November 2004. The primary aim of the project was to contribute to the development of common procedures for excavation, data collection and study of Roman cemeteries of the imperial period. Translated into English by Anna Maria Cipriani and John Pearce, this book looks at the way in which the analysis of skeletons can allow us to re-discover the lives of people who came before us and inform us of their view of death. Duday throughly examines the means at our disposal to allow the dead to speak, as well as identifying the pitfalls that may deceive us.