THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF DEATH AND MOURNING

Abstract

The anthropology of death and mourning explores cultural variations in death rituals, beliefs about the afterlife, and practices of grief across societies. This field reveals how human communities construct meaning around death, shape social identities, and negotiate transitions between life and afterlife. This article reviews key theoretical frameworks and ethnographic cases, highlighting the interplay between death rituals, social structures, and individual expressions of mourning. By analyzing diverse mortuary customs and mourning practices, the study underscores the role of death in sustaining cultural continuity and social cohesion.