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Discuss a common practice in the excavations of Jericho and Catal Huyuk regarding the burial of the dead under homes.

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Final answer:

The common practice between Jericho and Çatalhöyük was the burial of the dead beneath the floors of homes, with special treatment for children's burials.

Step-by-step explanation:

Common Burial Practices in Jericho and Çatalhöyük

Both the Neolithic site of Jericho and the settlement of Çatalhöyük share a common practice regarding the burial of the dead: they were often buried beneath the floors or platforms of homes. In some cases, at Jericho, the skulls of the deceased were removed, plastered, and reshaped to resemble living faces. The burials found during the excavations of these ancient sites show little variation with respect to wealth or gender. However, it is noted that children's burials were treated somewhat differently, being decorated with beads and covered with ochre, which may reflect societal values pertaining to children and the societal shift towards a more sedentary lifestyle with increasing labor and inheritance needs.

This burial tradition underlines the intimate connection between daily life and the respect for ancestors, which is equally observable in later historical periods and different cultures, such as the early Christians and Muslims who followed specific burial orientations reflecting their religious beliefs. Intriguingly, these early burial practices also resonate with the later ritualistic practices observed in different cultures, pointing to a long-standing human tradition of incorporating burials and respect for the dead into the fabric of communal and religious life.

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