Living with the Dead: 7 Gruesome Facts About Human Burial History
Human societies have long grappled with the question of how to treat the dead, with varying answers offering insight into life, faith, and human relationships.
From prehistoric burials to overcrowded Victorian churchyards, the treatment of the dead reveals much about the living and their societies, according to historian Roger Luckhurst, author of Graveyards: A History of Living with the Dead.
Notable discoveries, such as Tutankhamun's tomb and the Anglo-Saxon burial at Sutton Hoo, have centered around the notion of burial, highlighting its cultural significance.
Those many varying answers offer a valuable insight into how people across history have understood life, faith and human relationships.
Author's summary: Exploring human burial history reveals societal values.