Networks of the Dead: exploring patterns of homogeneity and diversity in the precolonial Caribbean using network analysis

Summary

The precolonial Caribbean shows great diversity in burial patterns across time and space, making the interpretation of funerary behavior very complex. While some broad trends in funerary practices have been noted, a simple assessment of the frequency of different burial practices in the region reveals a range of body positions and body treatment, as well as burial location, and grave goods.

In this paper we use statistical and network explorative approaches to map these variable practices. A 2-mode network analysis will be used to visualize large-scale differences between various temporal and regional divisions in the data-set. These overarching patterns will be further elucidated by a number of micro-networks centred on individual burials and their cross-connections.

Our application of network approaches to funerary data bring to light some important considerations for assessing homogeneity and diversity in the funerary record, and showcases another avenue for network applications in archaeology.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

Keywords

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17141