Final answer:
Placing a coin in a deceased's mouth before burial is rooted in ancient rituals, like the Greek 'Charon's obol,' signifying the need for payment in the afterlife, with grave goods suggesting preparation for life beyond death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tradition of placing a coin in the mouth of a deceased body before burial is often associated with ancient rituals and practices surrounding death and the afterlife. This custom, known in ancient Greek culture as 'Charon's obol,' involves placing a coin in the mouth of the deceased as payment to Charon, the ferryman who transported souls across the river Styx to the afterlife. It reflects a belief that the dead required such payment to ensure their passage to the next realm. Throughout history, burials have often included various grave goods and personal effects, such as tools, shells, animal bones, and jewelry, suggesting preparation for an afterlife or reverence of the deceased. Additionally, sumptuous burials with tomb goods, including weapons, mirrors, and ritual vessels, indicate beliefs in an afterlife where such items were useful or necessary. Although the exact beliefs and intentions behind these grave goods and practices like the coin placed in the mouth are not fully known, they serve as significant archaeological evidence for understanding the cultural and spiritual lives of ancient peoples.