1/20/2015Archeologists Study of BurialI. Berawana. Berawan funeral jar – not fully deadb. Why is a corpse scary to the Berawan?i. Tear in the fabric of society – a lose to the social collectiveii. Living socially “contaminated” by deathiii. Intermediary period dangerous1. Corpse can be re-animated2. Ghosts might menace the livingII. Hertz Triangle – think of the relationships between the 3 aspects of deatha. Spirit Soul – Corpse Funerali. Condition of the body is linked to the spiritii. Sacrifice in order to enter the spirit worldb. Living Society – Corpse Funerali. Death is a tear in societyii. Scale of funerary ceremonies will reflect the size of the tearc. Living Society – Spirit Souli. Death is a processii. Spirit/ghost of dead is dangerous in intermediary periodiii. Ceremonies resemble birth, initiation, marriage…III. Arnold van Gennep – French sociologista. Most important points in an individual’s life consists of:i. Separation from one state (or social category) and incorporation into anotherii. This nature of shift from one social status to another always marked by ceremonies (rites of passage)b. Between separation and incorporation is a period of time – the liminalperiodc. Liminal Period: transitional phase between old status and new statusi. A marginal state, because meant to be a temporary phase between more permanent statusesd. Rites of passage exhibit great cultural diversity but the liminal period shares 6 characteristics:i. Transitional: Ceremonies (rites) “move” the individual along1. Not dependent on how the person behaved while aliveii. In Between normal social roles (neither here nor there1. Betwixt and between (Hertz Intermediary period)2. May combine some elements of old and new statusiii. Ambiguous: Paradoxical behavior1. Behavior not socially acceptable at other timesiv. Dangerous: Individual outside customary social rulesv. Strange Symbolismsvi. Time of Communication of the Sacred1. When core cultural values start being communicated to the individual2. May be marked materially or bodily with special objects,adornmente. Examplesi. Marriage1. Single  Engaged  Marrieda. Ring = engagement = rite of passageb. Marriage = United = Rite of passageii. Social1. Parent’s Household  New householdiii. Frat/Sorority1. Non-Greek  Pledge  Frat Sororityiv. Catholic1. Baptism – 2 men – member of church2. Catechism – 1st/2nd graders – sacred valuesv. Reconciliation – 6-8