https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/L_AABAARC302Upon successful completion of this course you will havegained an overview of the bewildering variety of the ways people in the past dealt with death, burial, and commemoration of the dead as well as some recurring patterns therein;gained insight in the role of theory in explaining and interpreting the burial record;gained insights in the role of science-based methods applied to the burial recordgained an understanding of such key analytical notions as gender, age, class, and status for a social interpretation of grave yards or individual burials;acquired the abilities to critically apply key notions of funerary archaeology to a case study of a grave site, an individual burial, or a thematic topic.This course focuses on the funerary rituals that are conducted by the living for the dead. It deals both with the physical remains of dead bodies per se as well as with the personal items, grave goods and grave markers that accompany the dead in their final resting place. The course starts with an excursion to a modern cemetery in Amsterdam where we will explore the variety of funerary monuments and the extent to which this may be related to the social background of the deceased. In the ensuing lectures and seminars we will review and discuss theoretical approaches to mortuary archaeology, science-based analytical methods as well as studies of key individual cemeteries and burials.Lectures / seminars with discussions based on assigned readings with meetings two times a week (2 x 2 hours). Presence during class is compulsory. Absence in case of illness should be notified by mail, preferably before class.Participation at pre-course excursion (completed/non-completed)Discussion of assigned course literature (10%)Oral presentation using PowerPoint (20%)Written paper (70%) To pass this course the final grade should be 5.5 or above. In case of a fail, there will be an opportunity to re-write the paper; the oral presentation cannot be retaken.Morris, I., 1992: Death-ritual and social structure in classical antiquity, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Parker Pearson, M., 1999: The archaeology of death and burial, Stroud: Sutton Publishing.Specific chapters or articles will be disseminated through the CANVAS site.Third year students BA Archaeology.ACASA students must register via UvA https://glass.uva.nl This course is not open for elective students. Please note:Course registration periods between VU and UvA differ.This course is scheduled at the University of Amsterdam.The first class will be held in Week 1 on location at the New Eastern Cemetery (Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats) in Amsterdam This course is part of a joined programme by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA). It is taught at a UvA location. For the course schedule see https://rooster.uva.nl/What is Archaeology? ; A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World and A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and RomeWhat is Archaeology? ; A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World and A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome ; Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe ; Archaeology of Medieval Europe and the Early Modern WorldSpecific chapters or articles will be disseminated through the CANVAS site.