VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE DEATHSCAPES OF IRON AGE PHILISTIA

This paper reviews the existing evidence of burial practices in the southern coastal plain of Israel, the region called Philistia, where the ‘Philistine’ culture was identified. The multifaceted character of the burial practices in Iron Age Philistia are explained considering the complex and entangled nature of a migrating community, with its diverse origins and influences. Based on the accumulated data, it is suggested that the novel burial practices of the Philistines reflect a pragmatic development, typical of a people on the move, alongside a desire to distinguish themselves from the local population.