Mankind’s Socio-Cultural Development: Thanatological Perspective

The article substantiates some methods and perspectives of cultural thanatology as an integrative part history within the anthropological field. While general is usually concerned with individual events, (pre-)history uncovers common beliefs everyday culture. Culture here both a materialized form mass consciousness embodiment dynamic complex creative information exchange between individuals surrounding landscape. A field for worldview (mentality) particular society, its outlook, knowledge. spectrum death afterlife ideas significant amount it.The paper presents thanatological observations social-cultural context.● Afterlife mapping can be traced chronologically: idea Land Dead obviously started due to first Epi-Paleolithic long-distance migrations primitive sedentism. This was also time when permanent structured burial ritualism arose. One clearly trace concept “inextricable realm tangled paths,” later associated spiral-like labyrinth mirror symbolism, contributing imagery Otherworld. sky became stage ancestors’ mythological deeds location their households.● Almost all traditional societies shared in active concentrated incorporeal (spiritual) essence, commonly referred “soul”. polarity perception revealed, displayed ornitomorphic typical soul receptacles.● Tomb symbolism closely connected rebirth metamorphosis. Funerary structures were strongly ancestor cult, so they could include feasting hall, representing kind “inn”. More importantly, tumuli grave-chambers often liminal places initiation. Therefore, authors draw attention liminality.● Societies epic type such Vikings, Celts, Scythians other nomads, had unique mental models that fell somewhere “mythological” “rational” mind. Their heroes’ adventures ascent. using comparative-iconological method analyze funerary art objects, we should keep this mind consider profound ideological influence.● comparative analysis mature posthumous fate concepts, those ancient Geeks, Indo-Iranians, Chinese, or Maya, generally reveals trial motifs sign corresponding society has reached level “Axiality,” seen by Karl Jaspers. We claim Jaspers’ “axial” features do not indicate universal “phase” but rather certain state civilization development. socio-cultural vector context aims stimulate transform human personality. At core “axiality”, there lie specific changes space societies, which mainly lead personality transformation individualization worldview.So, “axiality phase” have revealed boundary consciousness. Thus, attempt investigate through prism cultural-historical thanatology, multidisciplinary approach.