Abstract
Religion is virtually as old as the human scene itself. And yet, precisely when, where, or how religion originally emerged are matters of conjecture. Discoveries by archeologists are the principal source of data, but the difficulty here lies in the fact that for the most part these data are strictly confined to discoveries or finds that have escaped the destructive forces of time. These consist of human skeletal remains, stone tools, animal bones, cult objects, sculptures, paintings, and engravings. However, the best type of archeological evidence relating to prehistoric religion is skeletal remains. The treatment of the human corpse — its disposal, its position, the objects placed by it, and the types of graves used — provides the most valuable information for reconstructing the religion of early human beings.
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© 1994 St. Martin’s Press, Inc.
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Nigosian, S.A. (1994). Religion in Prehistory. In: World Faiths. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13502-8_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13502-8_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-61696-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-13502-8
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