Jill L. Baker’s innovative approach to mortuary archaeology begins by identifying commonalities of a culture from the “funeral kit” that occurs in all of its burials, using examples from the Ancient Near East and comparing it to other cultures.

Studies of mortuary archaeology tend to focus on difference—how the researcher can identify age, gender, status, and ethnicity from the contents of a burial. Jill L. Baker’s innovative approach begins from the opposite point: how can you recognize the commonalities of a culture from the “funeral kit” that occurs in all burials, irrespective of status differences? And what do those commonalities have to say about the world view and religious beliefs of that culture? Baker begins with the Middle and Late Bronze Age tombs in the southern Levant, then expands her scope in ever widening circles to create a general model of the funeral kit of use to archaeologists in a wide variety of cultures and settings. The volume will be of equal value to specialists in Near Eastern archaeology and those who study mortuary remains in ancient cultures worldwide.

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Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution. Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution. Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only Tv=ti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes's death looms, the farmer's wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they've heard. Riveting and rich with lyricism, Burial Rites evokes a dramatic existence in a distant time and place, and asks the question, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?

This story features Gary “Swifty” Olson. Swifty has been Kit Andrews partner in their company for several years. After receiving a phone call from his sister notifying him of his father’s death, Swifty takes time off to see his mother and attend the funeral. When he gets to the family ranch in Cody, Wyoming, he visits the scene of the auto accident his father died in. What he finds doesn’t make sense, so he begins to snoop around and ask questions. The answers are elusive, and he finds clues his father may have been murdered. This is a story of a son searching to find out who may have murdered his father and why. In his search for answers, Swifty encounters old friends like veterinarian Ann Dexter, sheriff’s clerk, Melinda Swanson, and high school chum Lefty Phillips. He also runs into old enemies and manages to make some new ones in the course of his investigation. After a frustrating search for information, he gets a clue from his favorite Aunt, Judy Vannoy and soon finds himself face to face with a grandfather he had never met, and thought was dead. Swifty embarks on a search for the truth and seeks revenge for his father’s murder. A task that becomes more and more dangerous both for Swifty and his friends.

Meanwhile, her grandmother Lizzy staunchly guards them both from the disapproving glances that pious townsfolk cast their way. But when Lizzy dies suddenly, Kit and her childlike mother are left vulnerable to life's harsh realities and unexpected dangers that threaten to break them in two."--BOOK JACKET.