Question

you have been given the mortuary data from an archaeological study of an ancient cemetery. Several burials from the cemetery were excavated and age, sex, and number of grave goods were tabulated for each burial. The two graphs, below, present this data set. One graph is for females in the burial population and the other is for males. You are asked to write three short paragraphs about these graphs. In the first two paragraphs, describe the trends you see for males and females, respectively. In the third paragraph, compare and contrast the trends for males and females, then explain the differences you see using the concept of social status.

Answer 1

The trends in mortuary data for males and females are examined by looking at the number of grave goods and their distribution across different ages. Comparing the two can suggest variations in social status or gender roles in the ancient society. Population pyramids provide additional context about societal age structure and growth rates.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the archaeological mortuary data from the ancient cemetery, the trends for males and females can be deduced by analyzing the age, sex, and number of grave goods associated with each burial.

For females, if the graph depicts a specific trend such as an increase in grave goods with certain ages, we would describe how age may correlate with the quantity of grave goods. Similarly, for males, the graph might show variations that suggest a pattern or trend related to age or social status.

When comparing and contrasting the trends for males and females, one could focus on how the distribution and quantity of grave goods might indicate differences in social status between genders.

Graphs showing more grave goods for one gender over the other could imply a higher social status or differing roles within the society. If the distribution of goods is equal, it might suggest a more egalitarian society in terms of gender-based wealth or status representation in burial practices.

The shape of the pyramid reflects the overall population growth rate and the age structure. In the case of the ancient cemetery data, if the distribution of goods is skewed toward certain age groups, it might reflect the society's valuation of those age groups and their perceived contribution or status.