Final answer:
Burials in the Paleoindian period were not frequent, as suggested by the limited archeological evidence. Those that have been found sometimes include elaborate grave goods or evidence of ceremonies, indicating some social complexity and potentially ritualistic behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Burials during the Paleoindian period were infrequent when considering the vast expanse of time and the number of individuals likely to have existed. However, the archaeological record does show evidence of burials, some of which were elaborate and included placement of goods or practiced rituals in the grave. On the other hand, many burials of that time were rudimentary. The frequent placement of household items in graves from the same period of modern humans and Neanderthals suggests that the practice of burying the dead with goods could be symbolic and indicative of social structures or beliefs.
Over time, burials began to reflect social hierarchies, as seen in the evolved burial practices in communities like those around the Yellow River where inequality among individuals was evident through the grave goods. Some larger, elaborate graves from various cultures revealed a distinction in the importance of individuals. These practices also involved ceremonies, as seen in sites like Shanidar Cave, where the arrangement and materials found in association with the graves suggest intentional and ritualistic burials.