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Not sure if you are asking, a) what tools they used, or b) what was interred with the deceased.

For a), Whatever was available at the time, such as flint or antler picks.

For b), That depended on the particular society but many buried their dead with grave-goods of one sort or another such as hunting-weapons, jewellery etc. It's often assumed these items were for use in whatever "afterlife" was held to exist by that society, but we have to be careful not to assume beliefs of ancient people by back-projection of modern beliefs and ideas. So whilst the idea is perfectly plausible, for some societies at least, burying the deceased's possions with him or her was simply a mark of respect: the property belonged to that person so belongs to the body. This lingers in Western funerals today - in putting a favourite small possession or token in the coffin.

A few ancient peoples practised more elaborate rites such as cremation (difficult and very unpleasant on an open fire, but still or at least very recent in India) or excarnation.

The latter survived into recent history in Tibet and I think among some N. American native tribes: it may seem revolting to us but it was their way of showing their respect for the deceased.

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12y ago

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