Burial and Social Reproduction in the Peninsular Italian Neolithic

Abstract

This essay analyzes Neolithic burial sites from Southern and Central Italy. Aside from a poorly defined Abruzzese/Latial regional tradition, most sites fall into a well-defined developmental sequence. The Early and Middle Neolithic are characterized by unelaborated single primary burials in villages, without grave goods or formal tomb architecture. Sporadic local experiments with goods, tombs, formal cemetery areas and secondary burial are known in the Middle-Late Neolithic, associated with varied trichrome ware cultures, and in the Late-Final Neolithic Diana-Bellavista culture aspects of these are combined in a widespread standard package of cist tombs with single or multiple burials, skull curation, goods and formal cemetery areas. Variation in burial position was associated both with sex and with the presence of burial goods and architecture. Throughout the Neolithic burial was not used to symbolize notable status differences between individuals. Burial changes in the Late- Final Neolithic probably relate to a shift from co-residence in bounded villages, defined by perimeter ditches and individual compound ditches, to a stress on genealogy as a means of group identification. The new cemeteries preserved the segmentary structure of the group, but symbolized relations among people by mapping them onto the dead instead of the living. The result allowed genealogy to be used more flexibly as a strategic idiom for mobilizing production. and creating strategic alliances in the trade-oriented atmosphere of the Final Neolithic. Diana-Bellavista culture burials on some Late Neolithic village sites may mark legitimation of the transitional generations.