El arte de morir: Una aproximación a las concepciones del deceso humano en el Paleolítico Superior europeo

Abstract

A partir del analisis de contextos arqueologicos con restos humanos y las manifestaciones rupestres del Paleolitico Superior europeo, se proponen dos principales formas de tratamiento mortuorio; uno dirigido a la dispersion y eventual desaparicion de los difuntos y otro centrado en su preservacion y retencion. En el primero se observa una tendencia a la difuminacion de las diferencias sociales y, en el segundo, se nota una distincion en funcion del grupo de edad y genero. Tras el cambio climatico y de patrones de asentamiento en el paso del Gravetiense al Magdaleniense y Epigravetiense, se percibe que, hasta cierto punto, las formas en que se inhumaban los diversos sectores sociales se tornaron mas homogeneas. Pero, reconociendo constantes, se concluye que las concepciones paleoliticas de la muerte conformaron un fenomeno de larga duracion en el que, pese a la existencia de modificaciones superficiales, pudieron mantenerse una serie de elementos mas centrales.   Based on a comparative analysis of archaeological burial contexts and rock art in the European Upper Palaeolithic, this paper suggests two main forms of mortuary practices for that period: one aimed at the disposal and eventual disintegration of the dead, and another focused on their preservation and retention. The earlier reveals an intention to disguise social differences, the latter, on the contrary, seems to represent an effort to singularize the gender and age-group of the deceased. It appears that, following the changes in climate and settlement patterns that took place after the Gravettian and into the Magdalenian and Epigravettian, the burial forms and practices pertaining to different social groups became more homogeneous, to some extent. However, we identify some continuous trends which lead us to conclude that the Paleolithic idea of death may be perceived as a long-term phenomenon that, despite superficial transformations, maintained some basic elements at its core.