Deviant burial in the archaeological record - Eileen M Murphy

This edited volume contains twelve papers that present evidence
on non-normative burial practices from the Neolithic through to
Post-Medieval periods and includes case studies from some ten
countries. It has long been recognised by archaeologists that
certain individuals in a variety of archaeological cultures from
diverse periods and locations have been accorded differential
treatment in burial relative to other members of their society.
These individuals can include criminals, women who died during
childbirth, unbaptised infants, people with disabilities, and
supposed revenants, to name but a few. Such burials can be
identifiable in the archaeological record from an examination of
the location and external characteristics of the grave site.
Furthermore, the position of the body in addition to its
association with unusual grave goods can be a further feature of
atypical burials. The motivation behind such non-normative burial
practices is also diverse and can be related to a wide variety of
social and religious beliefs. It is envisaged that the volume
will make a significant contribution towards our understanding of
the complexities involved when dealing with non-normative burials
in the archaeological record.