Special to NKyTribune
Where are the missing bodies?
We bury our dead – and when we do, the architecture of our burial practices are evident, from the ancient Pyramids to the Paris Catacombs of the late 18th Century to our modern cemeteries.
Archaeologists and anthropologists have long studied the tombs and other evidence of our farewells to the departed. But such burial evidence is largely lacking from Iron Age Britain and Ireland. What explains the absence of such evidence?
Anthropology and communications studies senior Amanda Andrews will explore that question at Northern Kentucky University’s next Six@Six Lecture, “Burial Practices of the Iron Age Celts,” on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Behringer Crawford Museum in Covington’s Devou Park.
Andrews will take you back in time to a culture that viewed water as a conduit to the afterlife, and perhaps connected that perspective its burial practices. While it is hard to know for certain where the Iron Age Celts disposed of their dead, there are clues in the bodies found well-preserved in bogs and in what we know of burial practices of cultures from elsewhere in the world.
Andrews was drawn to the bog bodies – and what they can tells us – because the remains are what she calls a “tragic and informative time capsule.”
“Bog bodies hold true to the time of their death, their stomach still has remains of their last meal. How many times can archeologists look at a body more than 2,000 years old and see skin or hair still attached?” she said.
“To an archaeologist, documented history helps us explain the culture and our findings, but when we have cultures where written records where scarce there is uncertainty about the cultural practice.”
Her fascination with bog bodies started during her freshman year at NKU. She loved Celtic history and its shroud of mysticism.
“Amanda’s talk will intrigue you as she shares what she has learned about the Celts and how they put their dead to rest,” said Mark Neikirk, director of NKU’s Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement, which hosts Six@Six.
“But it will also show you another example of the in-depth inquiries by our students. Already this season our students have talked about sports and rivalries, racial categories across American history, and the inspirational and literary power of Moby-Dick, nearly 170 years after it was written. Exploring Iron Age burials is another chance to showcase our student talent.”
NKU launched the Six@Six Lecture Series in 2010, with talks both by faculty and students. Over the years, topics have included Lincoln’s speeches; earthworms as invasive species; the ethics and economics of harvesting chocolate in third world countries for first world markets; Larry Flynt and the First Amendment; and post-Civil War cooking by former slaves.
This is the fourth of seven lectures during the 2018-2019 academic year.
Title: Burial Practices of Iron Age Celts
Date and time: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Feb. 21
Location: Behringer Crawford Museum, Devou Park, Covington
Parking: Free in the museum lot
Admission: Free (normally $6 but waived for this lecture)
RSVP: Requested online