Issues of theory and method in the analysis of Paleolithic mortuary behavior: a view from Shanidar Cave

Mortuary behavior (activities concerning dead conspecifics) is one of many traits that were previously widely considered to have been uniquely human, but on which perspectives have changed markedly in recent years. Theoretical approaches to hominin mortuary activity and its evolution have undergone major revision, and advances in diverse archaeological and paleoanthropological methods have brought new ways of identifying behaviors such as intentional burial. Despite these advances, debates concerning the nature of hominin mortuary activity, particularly among the Neanderthals, rely heavily on the re-reading of old excavations as new finds are relatively rare, limiting the extent to which such debates can benefit from advances in the field. The recent discovery of in situ articulated Neanderthal remains at Shanidar Cave offers a rare opportunity to take full advantage of these methodological and theoretical developments to understand Neanderthal mortuary activity, making a review of these advances relevant and timely.Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research (Grant number CONF-788) Leverhulme Trust (Research Grant RPG-2013-105) Rust Family Foundation British Academy Society of Antiquaries McDonald Institute of Archaeological Research Natural Environment Research Council’s Oxford Radiocarbon Dating Facility (grant NF/2016/2/14) Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship awarded to Ceren Kabukcu (ECF-2017-284) Calleva Foundation Human Origins Research Fund Natural Environment Research Council (grant number NE/L002507/1