Unique Jewish Funerary Practices in the Jericho Cemetery of the Second Temple Period

Abstract

Several unique types of finds from the Jericho cemetery of the Second Temple period are the sub¬ject of this article. Among these finds are unusual inscriptions (an inscribed memorial bowl from Jericho; personal names articulated in the Goliath tomb; and an abecedary with mystical hints), funerary art (a wall painting and a nefesh, or funerary marker), and evidence for the use of wooden coffins as a form of burial. The customs exhibited at the Jewish cemetery at Jericho reveal previ¬ously unknown data that contribute significantly to our knowledge of Jewish burial practices of the Second Temple Period. In addition to addressing this archaeological evidence, the article takes up how the burial practices at this site reveal the diversity among the deceased and designated roles associated with the deceased.