Memory in Place: Infant and Child Burial Practices in Chalcolithic Anatolia
- Editor(s):
- Engin, A.; Aykurt, A.; Türkcan, A.U.; Zimmermann, T.; Yaşin, D.; Gedik Zimmermann, S.; Ekinbaş Can, Ö.; Çiftçi, Ş.; Can, Ş.; Kekeç, E.
Abstract
Intramural burials in Chalcolithic communities of Anatolia represent tangible evidence
of enduring ritual practices passed down through generations, despite evolving social
dynamics and spatial arrangements. Particularly noteworthy are the burials of fetuses,
infants, and children, which formed part of a broader ritual tradition aimed at preserving social memory and sustaining specific beliefs over centuries. Despite shifts in social structures, the continuity of these burial practices played a significant role in shaping community identity and belief systems. This research seeks to understand the social significance of fetal, infant, and child burials and explores how the lives and deaths of young individuals contributed to the development of social complexity. Methodologically, the analyses focus on Chalcolithic settlements in the Anatolian Plateau, particularly Çadır Höyük, to investigate the intramural burial practices of infants and children within the broader social and cultural context of the period. This interdisciplinary approach aims to provide a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between burial rites, social dynamics, and cultural continuity in Chalcolithic communities.
