[Anthropology-archaeology]How does a study of burial populations help us understand social, economic, or political hierarchies in an ancient society.

The present seeks to analyze how a study of burial populations helps us to understand social , economic , or political hierarchies in an ancient society . The analysis is arranged in two main parts - four case studies based on the articles (Al-Shorman 2004 Dunham , Gold Hantman 2003 Liston Papadopoulos 2004 Mizoguchi 2005 ) from academic journals (American Antiquity Antiquity Hesperia ) and a comparative discussion

Al-Shorman (2004 ) showed how the structure of three cemeteries in Jordan (6 A .C ) was important for recreating the social organization of the ancient Byzantine society . Dunham , Gold Hantman (2003 ) examined how

excavation and analysis of the late prehistoric collective burial site (The Rapidan Mound , Virginia , A .D . 900-1650 ) helped to reconstruct the social model of indigenous tribes of the given period . Liston Papadopoulos (2004 ) clarified the issues of pregnancy and death in the ancient Greek world (circa 850 B .C . Finally , Mizoguchi (2004 associated the dynastic or genealogical structure of the early first millennium Japan cemeteries to a strong link between families and land

All the four researchers stated that burial habits of ancient societies were highly associated with social structure , economy , demography health and religion issues

The Byzantine burials (6 A .C

Al-Shorman (2004 ) investigated three cemeteries near the ruins of the Byzantine church in Yasieleh , Jordan . A cemetery on the south side was reported to consist of multiple tombs carved in limestone rocks , whereas the ones on the western and the northern sides were cemeteries of single shaft either vertical or horizontal tombs . The cemeteries also differed from one another in planning . The southern cemetery was characterized by the tier arrangement of the graves , which were cut horizontally in the hillside whereas the northern cemetery was planned in regular rows . The tombs there were cut vertically into the ground on top of the hill Finally , the western cemetery was situated in the lowest part of the site and hosted both vertical and horizontal graves

Al-Shorman (2004 ) hypothesized that the three parts of the burial site varied in the ascribed social value . Whereas the southern part was situated closer to the wine production facilities and crop storages (the centers of economic activity , the northern and the western parts were placed closer to agricultural land (the periphery of wealth and prosperity . The researcher (Al-Shorman 2004 :308 ) concluded that the difference in the burial structure within those cemeteries might be explained by the social organisation of the Yasieleh community rather than by a temporal change in cultural practices

According to Al-Shorman (2004 , there were several factors affecting the mode of social life and rituals of death in the Byzantine period Christianity and economic activities . As the scholar (Al-Shorman 2004 :309 ) explained , the Byzantine people did not regard death as a pollutant

The church was sited with a view to embracing the high ranking southern cemetery and the area of high production activity . The proximity of these high-ranking tombs to the site centre could be viewed as a reflection of frequent visits to the cemetery and /or the regular...