Burial Goods

Definition

Burial goods refer to the items placed in graves with the deceased, intended to accompany them in the afterlife or serve practical purposes. These items often included weapons, pottery, jewelry, and tools, and they reveal insights into the social status, beliefs, and daily life of the culture from which they originate. In Bronze Age Greece, particularly within the Mycenaean civilization, burial goods are essential for understanding their customs surrounding death and the afterlife.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Burial goods in Mycenaean tombs often included finely crafted weapons and gold jewelry, highlighting the wealth of the individual buried there.
2. The presence of specific items like amphorae and kraters suggests that Mycenaeans believed in a continuation of daily life after death, requiring such goods.
3. Graves were often marked with distinctive markers or structures that could indicate the significance of the person buried and the types of goods included.
4. Archaeological studies have revealed that the quantity and quality of burial goods can reflect social hierarchies within Mycenaean society.
5. Some burial practices included cremation alongside the inclusion of goods, which points to diverse beliefs about death among Mycenaean people.

Review Questions

• How do burial goods found in Mycenaean tombs reflect the social structure of their society?
  • Burial goods serve as indicators of an individual's social status within Mycenaean society. The wealthier individuals had more elaborate items such as gold jewelry and finely made weapons placed with them in their tombs. This suggests a hierarchical structure where those of higher status were afforded more luxurious grave goods, indicating their importance in life. Thus, by examining these items, we can glean insights into how social stratification was established during this period.
• Discuss the significance of burial goods in understanding Mycenaean funerary practices and beliefs about the afterlife.
  • Burial goods are crucial for comprehending Mycenaean funerary practices as they reflect the culture's beliefs regarding death and what is needed for the afterlife. Items such as pottery and food containers suggest that Mycenaeans believed in a continuation of life's needs beyond death. Additionally, these goods can indicate a person's status and role within society during their lifetime, revealing deeper cultural values associated with death and memory.
• Evaluate how archaeological findings related to burial goods can contribute to our understanding of trade relationships during the Mycenaean era.
  • Archaeological findings of burial goods provide valuable insights into Mycenaean trade relationships by revealing imported materials and styles present in grave items. The presence of foreign goods such as jewelry or pottery indicates extensive trade networks with neighboring cultures. Furthermore, analyzing the diversity of materials used in these burial goods can highlight economic connections between regions and cultures during this era. Such connections ultimately paint a broader picture of Mycenaean interactions with others beyond mere conquest.

Related terms

Mycenaean Tombs: Structures built by the Mycenaean civilization for the burial of elites, often containing elaborate burial goods that signify wealth and status.

Grave Goods: Items placed in graves, similar to burial goods, that provide information about the deceased's identity and the cultural practices of their society.

Funerary Practices: The rituals and customs associated with burial and mourning in a particular culture, which can involve specific arrangements of burial goods.