Displaying the Famous Political Dead
Preservation of a body is an interesting phenomenon, whether it be the evanescent embalming at a funeral home to prevent the body from decaying at the wake, or preservation for […]
Tag Archives: funeral
The Feast of Men: Cannibalism in Fiji
Interpreting cannibalism is complex due to our own Western assumptions about the practice, a lack of attention to context of the acts, and the diverse reasons for its occurrence. Cannibalism […]
Everybody look at me cause I’m sailing on a boat!
The Lonely Island’s rendition of “I’m on a Boat” reveals not only the modern guy’s enthusiasm for getting the chance to ride on a boat, but also the prestige associated […]
Choice of Wood in Cremation Pyres
When analyzing cremated remains it is important to be aware of the broader burial and not focus so narrowly on the remains themselves if one wants to be able to […]
Coin in the Mouth or Shoe on the Coffin
In order to cross the river Styx, the deceased need to pay the ferryman Charon. Only after this are they welcome into the afterlife. During the burial, the living place […]
Commemorating the Dead in Mesopotamia
Burial is more than a way of disposing a body, it is intimately tied to group identity, individual identity, social customs and cultural beliefs. Funerals are a period of renegotiation […]
Bones Don't Lie 