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Description of  Burials and Society in Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Ireland (Queen's University Belfast Irish Archaeological Monograph)

1789696313 pdf The Single Burial Tradition is the name given to a set of burial practices found in Ireland from the later Chalcolithic Period through the Early Bronze Age. The tradition commenced in the decades after 2200 BC and continued until about 1600 BC. During this time there was a significant evolution in burial practice. The earliest burials of this tradition were single inhumation burials in a cist, apparently always accompanied by a decorated funerary bowl or vase. In time the practice of burial in a pit was added to the tradition, and cremation began to supersede inhumation. Additional varieties of accompanying funerary vessel were now found in many, but not in all, burials. From about 2000 BC onwards cremation burials inserted into an inverted urn became increasingly common. The number and sophistication of grave goods, in addition to pottery, accompanying the burials gradually increased through the era. Read more