anthropology of death and dying

The anthropology of death and dying studies how different cultures understand and cope with death. It explores rituals, beliefs, and practices surrounding death, such as funerals, mourning customs, and afterlife concepts. This field examines how societies shape their views on mortality and the meanings they assign to life and death. By comparing different cultural perspectives, anthropologists seek to understand the universal human experience of dying while appreciating the diversity in responses to loss and grief. This helps illuminate how cultural context influences our views on life’s end and the ways we honor those who have passed.