ABSTRACT
Modes of corpse disposal are cultural conventions conveying basic facts about the treatment of the dead. Funeral rites are the oldest archaeologically discernable examples of man's ability to distinguish between culture and nature. Diversity of disposal within a given culture shows that the choice stems not from technical problems but rather from particular ideological considerations. In many cultures bones are intensely associated with life and are often considered a necessary condition for the revival of a dead hero. The semantics of modes of disposal are not necessarily identical for all cultures. Continuity of settlement and local peculiarities of tradition combined with contact with alien cultures from the west, south-east and north, making this region rich and complex. The need for cross-cultural studies in archaeology thus becomes evident. Concepts of death are organized according to specific principles as demanded by cultural integrity.
