Sequencing the Dead: Archaeothanatological Perspectives on Hazendonk Mortuary Practices and Body Manipulations at Ypenburg, The Netherlands

Ypenburg (Rijswijk, the Netherlands) is a Middle Neolithic site with the largest currently known burial ground associated with the Hazendonk Group, making it a key dataset for evaluating and refining interpretations of associated mortuary practices. The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the Hazendonk funerary chaîne opératoire by separating primary depositional traces from taphonomic overprints, simultaneously reassessing previously assigned interpretive labels such as binding and multiple burial. Methodologically, the study applies archaeothanatological principles during the analysis of archival documentation of 30 Ypenburg graves (MNI=40), focusing on articulation preservation and the identification of different forms of bone movement constraints. Findings revealed that most graves consist of single primary inhumations decomposed in filled graves, often under staggered infilling. Extremely flexed positions are uncommon and rarely provide conclusive evidence of binding, since...Show moreYpenburg (Rijswijk, the Netherlands) is a Middle Neolithic site with the largest currently known burial ground associated with the Hazendonk Group, making it a key dataset for evaluating and refining interpretations of associated mortuary practices. The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the Hazendonk funerary chaîne opératoire by separating primary depositional traces from taphonomic overprints, simultaneously reassessing previously assigned interpretive labels such as binding and multiple burial. Methodologically, the study applies archaeothanatological principles during the analysis of archival documentation of 30 Ypenburg graves (MNI=40), focusing on articulation preservation and the identification of different forms of bone movement constraints. Findings revealed that most graves consist of single primary inhumations decomposed in filled graves, often under staggered infilling. Extremely flexed positions are uncommon and rarely provide conclusive evidence of binding, since they often occur alongside architectural restraints. Nonetheless, there is one case where tying remains a possible scenario. At the same time, graves containing more than one individual do not form a single category: evidence reflects one simultaneous multiple deposition alongside several plural and collective formations shaped by reopening, selective disturbance, and phased deposition. These multi-stage practices are concentrated mainly in the northern sector, indicating that burial ground organization was structured, with certain graves remaining available for later interaction grouped together. Overall, the results reframe Hazendonk mortuary practices at Ypenburg as internally differentiated, demonstrating the analytical value of post-excavation archaeothanatological reassessment of documentation as a non-destructive approach to improved interpretive resolution and reconstruction of Neolithic funerary systems.Show less

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Sequencing the Dead: Archaeothanatological Perspectives on Hazendonk Mortuary Practices and Body Manipulations at Ypenburg, The Netherlands