Show Summary Details
Overview
grave goods
Quick Reference
[De]
Objects placed with the deceased at the time of burial and left with the body in the grave when it is covered. Archaeologically, disentangling the origins and meanings of the things included in graves can be tricky. Some objects are clearly dress fittings and personal items worn by or on the clothing of the deceased and raise the question of how the person was dressed and what in. Other things are also personal items, but it is not always clear that they belong to the deceased; they may have been placed as gifts by the mourners. These and related problems make the task of determining rank and status on the basis of grave finds fraught with difficulties.
