Final answer:
Early civilizations often buried luxury items in tombs for reasons related to afterlife beliefs, social hierarchy, and political theatre. These grave goods denoted status and were thought necessary for the afterlife, and the opulence of tombs increased with societal wealth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many early civilizations buried luxury items in tombs as part of funerary practices that reflected beliefs in the afterlife and the social status of the deceased. Through time, these grave goods became more lavish, indicating a growth in social hierarchy and the desire to equip the deceased for the afterlife with status symbols. In civilizations such as the Early Egyptian Dynasty, opulent burials with items like pottery, musical instruments, and even human sacrifices were common. These burials were a way to demonstrate the wealth and power of the deceased or their successors and were a form of political theatre, as well as possibly reflecting the spiritual necessity of such goods and companions in the afterlife. Over time, funerary practices continued to evolve, with Etruscans and others creating increasingly ornate burials as they accrued wealth through trade and other means.