Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons, & Rituals

by Christopher Sloan, Bruno Frohlich (Foreword)

By the year 2010, a staggering 34 million people worldwide will be affected by dementia. To receive a diagnosis of dementia can be a shattering experience, but, irrespective of the cause, appropriate, competent and knowledgeable management will enhance the lives of those affected.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Science, Historical, Childrens, Death, Archaeology

64 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Corbin Billington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives great description of body preservation throughout the history of mankind. I rated this book four out of five stars, because I felt like it gave a lot of information on body preservation and burial types. I couldn't have asked for a better informational book on this subject. I would recommend this book to highschool level readers and up, who are looking for information on different types of body preservation. This book really gave me a better outline of different funerary traditions.

[Mary Overton]

library copy -- Non-fiction lit for kids is fabulous these days. Here is a gloriously illustrated book that will satisfy the most morbid seeker of grossness -- while at the same time treating the subject with academic accuracy and intelligence.

My favorite tidbit -- "People on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia bury infants in a tree [and there is an illustration of an enormous, lichen splotched, vine covered tree trunk up the length of which are placed little doors made from lashed together sticks] .... They believe the child will rise up safely to the heavens through the trunk."

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Bright, shiny photographs and interesting tidbits to accompany. The only downside is the mention of "mummiya" as a reason of a lack of many mummies. A quick search on Google provides scant information. There doesn't seem to much basis for this extraordinary claim and no source mentioned either.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting how the dead are dealt with in different places.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very interesting pictures. Not quite as fascinationg as the Memento Mori but still good.

[Rhonda Gregware · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference work for intermediate through middle school students. Illustrations and photos add much to the preponderance of facts.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting. It gave an outlook on how our bodies, and ancient bodies can be preserved. This short novel talks about how all the ancient civilizations preserved their dead.


This book is written by Christopher Sloan and starts out by telling us about the ancient people that they are going to be digging up. They have found bones that date back in the ancient civilizations, and all the way back to the cave men. In ancient times they would cut out the brain and let the blood drain. After they do those steps they put some herb in there body to help preserve the body. Next, they put cloth around your body to help preserve the skin. Now in some cases many tribes or villages would just put their dead in the ground. By putting them in the ground it would help preserve the body and later our generation of people could study the bones and how the people were buried. Also, the book goes on and on about the different ways the most common tribes or civilization buried their dead.

The main characters were basically the Scientists themselves. They really never told me about them, but it told me they are archaeologists. The scientists' changed their aspect on life. They tried to put themselves into the old peoples shoes and kind of got a feel on how early life was like.

I rated this book 5 stars because of the great information it gave on our early civilizations and how they were buried and preserved through out the years.

I would recommend anyone from 10 years old to 18 years old should read this because to me I thought it was very interesting and I think a lot more people who would read it, would agree.

[Sarah Maddaford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is clearly endorsed by National Geographic. Not only is the author a senior editor, but his contacts with different photographers and anthropologists to create this book were made through the magazine. Sloan provides a list of his consultants near the copyright page, a detailed bibliography, a list of credits for all photographs and artwork as well as an index for easy browsing. Overall, the book is very informative without being overly dry or pedantic. Some of the pictures could have been better, but the photographs were all excellent. I'm not sure that I could get through a book like this written for adults, but this one is targeted for older children and young adults who I feel will enjoy it.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bury the Dead, as a National Geographic publication, is informative as well as beautiful. Full color pages accompany text on a fascinating topic. Sloan does an excellent job writing on a difficult subject. The writing is a bit simple therefore the book would probably be more appropriate for a middle school classroom.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently Reading:
This book is really interesting so far.

Finished:
This was a great and interesting book that gave you a lot of information about mummies. I bought this book from my friend before she moved away, It was a really interesting book and I think everyone should read it if they have any interest in history.

[Out of the Stacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully photographed book from National Geographic is a sure winner for kids of all ages who love all things morbid and gross, or who have an interest in anthropology. The text is accessible for upper elementary through high school students. It is well organized chronologically and by regions, highlighting important elements of funerary rituals of cultures throughout history.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a certain fascination with the dead and how they are treated and this book does a great job of looking at how cultures have buried their dead throughout history. Some are very elaborate like the Chinese and Egyptian and others are more simple. This book looks at a wide variety of tombs from prehistoric Neanderthals to modern day burials. Definitely worth the read.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little book about burial rituals and traditions throughout history. It is not very long and geared more towards Junior High and High School readers. I feel like it is a great resource for teachers conducting history units.

[Maciej]

Sample review

[Kristina Coop-a-Loop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Good pics.

[Janene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short little big book of different death customs. Quick read, interesting and worth a few minutes of your time. Some great pictures!

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple but serviceable introduction to the topic with full-color photographs.