Mortuary Practices in Bronze Age Anatolia: A Quantitative Analysis of Temporal and Regional Trends

Abstract

Throughout the Bronze Age, Anatolia had intriguing burial customs. There have been studies of these patterns from a site, regional or time period perspective, but none that have been synthesised through both time and space. Using a large-scale approach to Anatolian burial data allowed me to gain an understanding of mortuary practices and changes over time, within the context of broader socio-political changes in Anatolia, as well as identify and interpret space-time patterns in the form and quantity of burials. Even though the number of graves change dramatically through the Anatolian landscapes, burial patterns have remained consistent with very few changes over time. From my dataset, it appears that Anatolian grave patterns are characterized by vessel containers and simple pit graves, as well as a few other grave types that are evidence of connections between local Anatolian societies and their neighbours. Cultural connections between Eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus and north- western Anatolia and Balkans can be seen in Kurgan graves in these regions over time. The chamber tombs in the EBA in south-eastern Anatolia represent strong cultural connections with the south, the north of Syria, and the Levant. Tholoi and chamber tombs were found in Western Anatolia in the LBA, indicating a cultural relationship with Greece and the Aegean islands. Along with the architectural type of burials, grave goods also provide great deal of cultural connections such as Syrian bottle, seals, and Mycenaean swords.