Cremation, Corpses and Cannibalism

Cremation, Corpses and Cannibalism PDF Author: Anders Kaliff
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1443891800
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 205

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Book Description
Death matters and the matters of death are initially, and to a large extent, the decaying flesh of the corpse. Cremation as a ritual practice is the fastest and most optimal way of dissolving the corpse’s flesh, either by annihilation or purification, or a combination. Still, cremation was not the final rite, and the archaeological record testifies that the dead represented a means to other ends – the flesh, and not the least the bones – have been incorporated in a wide range of other ritual contexts. While human sacrifices and cannibalism as ritual phenomena are much discussed in anthropology, archaeology has an advantage, since the actual bone material leaves traces of ritual practices that are unseen and unheard of in the contemporary world. As such, this book fleshes out a broader and more coherent understanding of prehistoric religions and funeral practices in Scandinavia by focusing on cremation, corpses and cannibalism.

Cremation, Corpses and Cannibalism

Cremation, Corpses and Cannibalism PDF Author: Anders Kaliff
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1443891800
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 205

Get Book Here

Book Description
Death matters and the matters of death are initially, and to a large extent, the decaying flesh of the corpse. Cremation as a ritual practice is the fastest and most optimal way of dissolving the corpse’s flesh, either by annihilation or purification, or a combination. Still, cremation was not the final rite, and the archaeological record testifies that the dead represented a means to other ends – the flesh, and not the least the bones – have been incorporated in a wide range of other ritual contexts. While human sacrifices and cannibalism as ritual phenomena are much discussed in anthropology, archaeology has an advantage, since the actual bone material leaves traces of ritual practices that are unseen and unheard of in the contemporary world. As such, this book fleshes out a broader and more coherent understanding of prehistoric religions and funeral practices in Scandinavia by focusing on cremation, corpses and cannibalism.

Consuming Grief

Consuming Grief PDF Author: Beth A. Conklin
Publisher: University of Texas Press
ISBN: 0292782543
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 318

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Book Description
Mourning the death of loved ones and recovering from their loss are universal human experiences, yet the grieving process is as different between cultures as it is among individuals. As late as the 1960s, the Wari' Indians of the western Amazonian rainforest ate the roasted flesh of their dead as an expression of compassion for the deceased and for his or her close relatives. By removing and transforming the corpse, which embodied ties between the living and the dead and was a focus of grief for the family of the deceased, Wari' death rites helped the bereaved kin accept their loss and go on with their lives. Drawing on the recollections of Wari' elders who participated in consuming the dead, this book presents one of the richest, most authoritative ethnographic accounts of funerary cannibalism ever recorded. Beth Conklin explores Wari' conceptions of person, body, and spirit, as well as indigenous understandings of memory and emotion, to explain why the Wari' felt that corpses must be destroyed and why they preferred cannibalism over cremation. Her findings challenge many commonly held beliefs about cannibalism and show why, in Wari' terms, it was considered the most honorable and compassionate way of treating the dead.

Vampire Forensics

Vampire Forensics PDF Author: Mark Jenkins
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 1426206070
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
"Take a journey into the macabre in search of those ultimate creatures of the night: the immortal beings who defy death by feeding on the lifeblood of others - vampires. Generation after generation has found vampire lore - printed in old books, inscribed in medieval manuscripts, whispered by firelight in chimney corners, or written in moldering tombs and ancient bones - to be as fascinating as it is frightening. Yet its origins have always been shrouded in mystery." "Where did vampires first arise? Was Dracula really inspired by a 15th-century nobleman with the bloodcurdling name of Vlad the Impaler? Why are vampires so closely associated with epidemic disease and bats? What can we learn from the amazing recent discovery by National Geographic grantee Dr. Matteo Borrini of the buried remains of a 16th-century Venetian plague victim and suspected vampire? And what is it about graveyards that made people believe that the dead could prey on the living?" "In Vampire Forensics, historian Mark Jenkins probes vampire legend and shows how modern forensics, anthropology, and archaeology have helped to dig up historical truths enshrined in these gruesome tales." --Book Jacket.

Death, Mourning, and Burial

Death, Mourning, and Burial PDF Author: Antonius C. G. M. Robben
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119151767
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 670

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Book Description
The definitive reference on the anthropology of death and dying, expanded with new contributions covering everything from animal mourning to mortuary cannibalism Few subjects stir the imagination more than the study of how people across cultures deal with death and dying. This expanded second edition of the internationally bestselling Death, Mourning, and Burial offers cross-cultural readings that span the period from dying to afterlife, considering approaches to this transition as a social process and exploring the great variations of cultural responses to death. Exploring new content including organ transplantation, institutionalized care for the dying, HIV-AIDs, animal mourning, and biotechnology, this text retains classic readings from the first edition, and is enhanced by sixteen new articles and two new sections which provide increased breadth and depth for readers. Death, Mourning, and Burial, Second Edition is divided into eight parts reflecting the social trajectory of death: conceptualizations of death; death, dying, and care; grief and mourning; mortuary rituals; and remembrance and regeneration. Sections are introduced through foundational texts which provide the ideal introduction to this diverse field. It is essential reading for anyone concerned with issues of death and dying, as well as violence, terrorism, war, state terror, organ theft, and mortuary rituals. A thoroughly revised edition of this classic anthology featuring twenty-three new articles, two new sections, and three reformulated sections Updated to include current topics, including organ transplantation, institutionalized care for the dying, HIV-AIDs, animal mourning, and biotechnology Must reading for anyone concerned with issues of death and dying, as well as violence, terrorism, war, state terror, organ theft, and mortuary rituals Serves as a text for anthropology classes and provides a genuinely cross-cultural perspective to all those studying death and dying

Burning the Dead

Burning the Dead PDF Author: David Arnold
Publisher: University of California Press
ISBN: 0520379349
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description
Burning the Dead traces the evolution of cremation in India and the South Asian diaspora across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Through interconnected histories of movement, space, identity, and affect, it examines how the so-called traditional practice of Hindu cremation on an open-air funeral pyre was culturally transformed and materially refashioned under British rule, following intense Western hostility, colonial sanitary acceptance, and Indian adaptation. David Arnold examines the critical reception of Hindu cremation abroad, particularly in Britain, where India formed a primary reference point for the cremation debates of the late nineteenth century, and explores the struggle for official recognition of cremation among Hindu and Sikh communities around the globe. Above all, Arnold foregrounds the growing public presence and assertive political use made of Hindu cremation, its increasing social inclusivity, and its close identification with Hindu reform movements and modern Indian nationhood.

An Intellectual History of Cannibalism

An Intellectual History of Cannibalism PDF Author: Ctlin Avramescu
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691152195
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
Annotation Based on the research he undertook in rare book collections housed in Scotland, the United States, Finland, Iceland, Holland, Germany and Austria, the author presents a systematic history of cannabalism as reflected in the mirror of philosophy.

Burial Practices in Ancient India

Burial Practices in Ancient India PDF Author: Tushar
Publisher: PRASHARAN SVM
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 185

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Book Description
Delve into the intricate landscape of ancient Indian burial practices, spanning Mesolithic to Neolithic epochs. Unveil cultural and societal dimensions through mortuary practices in five comprehensive chapters. Gain insight regarding the basics of burial archaeology. Discover how burial rites evolved from indigenous societies to agrarian communities. Explore the transformative journey through time, culture, and human rituals. This booklet sheds light on deep-seated dynamics that shaped ancient lives, underscoring burial practices as pivotal cultural expressions. This booklet peculiarly offers a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of burial customs from Mesolithic to Neolithic times in Ancient India, weaving together history, culture, and human beliefs.

Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience

Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience PDF Author: Clifton D. Bryant
Publisher: SAGE Publications
ISBN: 1452266166
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1161

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Book Description
Death and dying and death-related behavior involve the causes of death and the nature of the actions and emotions surrounding death among the living. Interest in the varied dimensions of death and dying has led to the development of death studies that move beyond medical research to include behavioral science disciplines and practitioner-oriented fields. As a result of this interdisciplinary interest, the literature in the field has proliferated. This two-volume resource addresses the traditional death and dying–related topics but also presents a unique focus on the human experience to create a new dimension to the study of death and dying. With more than 300 entries, the Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience includes the complex cultural beliefs and traditions and the institutionalized social rituals that surround dying and death, as well as the array of emotional responses relating to bereavement, grieving, and mourning. The Encyclopedia is enriched through important multidisciplinary contributions and perspectives as it arranges, organizes, defines, and clarifies a comprehensive list of death-related perspectives, concepts, and theories. Key Features Imparts significant insight into the process of dying and the phenomenon of death Includes contributors from Asia,; Africa; Australia; Canada; China; eastern, southern, and western Europe; Iceland; Scandinavia; South America; and the United States who offer important interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives Provides a special focus on the cultural artifacts and social institutions and practices that constitute the human experience Addresses death-related terms and concepts such as angel makers, equivocal death, end-of-life decision making, near-death experiences, cemeteries, ghost photography, halo nurses, caregiver stress, cyberfunerals, global religious beliefs and traditions, and death denial Presents a selective use of figures, tables, and images Key Themes Arts, Media, and Popular Culture Perspectives Causes of Death Conceptualization of Death, Dying, and the Human Experience Coping With Loss and Grief: The Human Experience Cross-Cultural Perspectives Cultural-Determined, Social-Oriented, and Violent Forms of Death Developmental and Demographic Perspectives Funerals and Death-Related Activities Legal Matters Process of Dying, Symbolic Rituals, Ceremonies, and Celebrations of Life Theories and Concepts Unworldly Entities and Events With an array of topics that include traditional subjects and important emerging ideas, the Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience is the ultimate resource for students, researchers, academics, and others interested in this intriguing area of study.

Food Philosophy

Food Philosophy PDF Author: David M. Kaplan
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 023155110X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Food is a challenging subject. There is little consensus about how and what we should produce and consume. It is not even clear what food is or whether people have similar experiences of it. On one hand, food is recognized as a basic need, if not a basic right. On the other hand, it is hard to generalize about it given the wide range of practices and cuisines, and the even wider range of tastes. This book is an introduction to the philosophical dimensions of food. David M. Kaplan examines the nature and meaning of food, how we experience it, the social role it plays, its moral and political dimensions, and how we judge it to be delicious or awful. He shows how the different branches of philosophy contribute to a broader understanding of food: what food is (metaphysics), how we experience food (epistemology), what taste in food is (aesthetics), how we should make and eat food (ethics), how governments should regulate food (political philosophy), and why food matters to us (existentialism). Kaplan embarks on a series of philosophical investigations, considering topics such as culinary identity and authenticity, tasting and food criticism, appetite and disgust, meat eating and techno-foods, and consumerism and conformity. He emphasizes how different narratives help us navigate the complex world of food and reminds us we all have responsibilities to ourselves, to others, and to animals. An original treatment of a timely subject, Food Philosophy is suitable for undergraduates while making a significant contribution to scholarly debates.

Death to Dust

Death to Dust PDF Author: Kenneth V. Iserson
Publisher: Gale Group Incorporated
ISBN:
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 868

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Book Description
In our culture, we rarely speak about death -- partly because it is seen as a sort of pornography, shrouded in indecency and immersed in taboos; and partly because we know so little about it. Yet nearly everyone at some point has questions about what happens after death. At long last, here is a book to answer many of those questions: What physical changes occur to a dead body?