Investigating complex mortuary practices in the Neolithic Near East

该项目的主要目的是通过整合考古人类学，法医学和民族学来调查复杂的多阶段丧葬习俗。葬礼考古学的方法论原则将通过在澳大利亚和加拿大唯一的尸体农场进行实验来扩展，并融入到新石器时代近东墓葬的研究中。与印度尼西亚的民族考古研究相结合，预期成果包括研究多阶段丧葬过程的新方法，以及关于世界上第一个原始城市住区的社会分化和意识形态的精确知识。这项研究将强调澳大利亚在将考古人类学与法医学相结合方面的先驱作用。

The main aim of this project is to investigate complex multi-stage mortuary practices through the integration of archaeo-anthropology, forensic science and ethnology. The methodological principles of funerary archaeology will be expanded by experiments at the only Australian and Canadian body farms, and integrated into the study of Neolithic Near Eastern burials. Combined with ethno-archaeological research in Indonesia, anticipated outcomes include new methods for the study of multi-stage mortuary processes, together with refined knowledge about social differentiation and ideology in the world’s first proto-urban settlements. This study will emphasise Australia’s pioneering role in combining archaeo-anthropology with forensic science.