Burial in the Battle Axe Culture - a theme with many variations

The contents of a burial reflect in some way the actions performed when the individual was laid to rest; on this we can agree. The actions behind each burial are unique, but at the same time we note similarities when we compare burials from a limited area and a limited period of time. Both similarities and differences are of interest.

The burials under examination date from between 2800 and 2350 BC. They show many variations in content, type of interment, body position, etc. The majority are pit burials but in some cases the individual was placed in the passage to a megalithic tomb erected much earlier. We are looking at similarities and differences and trying to arrive at an explanation for these: are they chronological, social, random, sex-related, ritual, or is there some other explanation?