Memory in place: infant and child burial practices in chalcolithic Anatolia

Abstract

Intramural burials in Chalcolithic communities of Anatolia represent tangible evidenceof enduring ritual practices passed down through generations, despite evolving socialdynamics and spatial arrangements. Particularly noteworthy are the burials of fetuses,infants, and children, which formed part of a broader ritual tradition aimed at preservingsocial memory and sustaining specific beliefs over centuries. Despite shifts in socialstructures, the continuity of these burial practices played a significant role in shapingcommunity identity and belief systems. This research seeks to understand the socialsignificance of fetal, infant, and child burials and explores how the lives and deaths ofyoung individuals contributed to the development of social complexity. Methodologically,the analyses focus on Chalcolithic settlements in the Anatolian Plateau, particularlyÇadır Höyük, to investigate the intramural burial practices of infants and childrenwithin the broader social and cultural context of the period. This interdisciplinaryapproach aims to provide a deeper understanding of the complex relationship betweenburial rites, social dynamics, and cultural continuity in Chalcolithic communities.