The typology of the burials

Different typologies of the graves have been proposed based on their morphology, the location of the entrance, orientation, the position of the human remains, etc. Regarding pit burials, several types have been categorised (Duboscq 2017; Gibaja et al. 2017; Martín et al. 2017) (Figure 8):

- Type I: two-level structure (a well-defined upper platform with an opening leading into the lower funerary chamber). NE/SW orientation of the structure, occasionally E/W, with the deceased arranged in the supine decubitus position. The structure is closed using slabs made of stone or a perishable material. Two subtypes have been defined: with a rectangular surface and chamber (Type I) or with a circular or oval surface and chamber (Type Ib).

- Type II: two-level structure, defined by an upper rectangular platform with an opening leading into the lower funerary chamber of rectangular or oval morphology, effectively creating a kind of apse (in cave). The body of the deceased tends to be curled (few examples with a stretched skeleton have been documented), arranged in the supine decubitus position. The orientation is the same as in the previous type and the tomb is likewise closed using a large slab made of stone or a perishable material. Two subtypes (Type IIa and Type IIb) have been defined based on the placement of the inhumed within the sepulchral space.

- Type III: two-level structure (upper circular, oval or quadrangular platform from which one descends into the funeral chamber, located on one side, through a ramp, a step or a well). The skeleton is curled and arranged in the lateral decubitus position or curled or stretched in the supine decubitus position, with SE/NW or S/N orientation, i.e.

transverse to the axis of the tomb. The closure of the structure is vertical, made of stone or a perishable material. There are two subtypes here too: a chamber of small dimensions with a ramp or small step access and with the skeleton curled (Type IIIa), and a wide oval or circular funerary chamber, as a hypogeum, also with a ramp or small step access and with the skeleton either curled or stretched (Type IIIb).

- Type IV: funerary chamber opening at the original ground level. The orientation of the skeleton is NE/SW or E/W and the structure is closed using slabs made of stone or a perishable material. It is possible that many of these tombs are perhaps destroyed structures of the types defined above, of which only the burial chamber has been preserved. Two subtypes have been defined: those of a rectangular shape (Type IVa) and of an oval shape (Type IVb).

- Silos: circular pits with human remains, either anatomically intact, or fragmented and isolated. It has not been possible to determine whether these are reused structures or if they were made explicitly for funerary purposes (Figure 9).

- Indeterminate types: isolated structures with human remains that could not be categorised due to their poor state of preservation.

Figure 8. Typology of the Pit Burials according to Duboscq 2017 and Martín et al. 2017.

Figure 9. Example of a silo burial: Structure E11 from “Horts de Can Torras” (image produced by Arrago S.L., extracted from Coll & Roig 2005).

Moreover, two different types of burials made of slabs or large blocks of stone have been distinguished (Castany 2008):

- Megalithic chambers: built using slabs on the sides and on the roof with front “door-like” access. Three subtypes have been defined: a buried chamber accessible either at ground level or through a ramp (CMS), an open chamber in a natural recess closed using stone slabs (CMM) and a chamber under a mound (CMT).

- Stone boxes: buried box hermetically sealed on all four sides. The chamber is accessed through the slab that covers it, which is flatter and smaller than those of megalithic chambers.

However, around 20% of these burials could not be assigned to any of these types due to their poor state of conservation. They correspond to what is traditionally called the

"Solsonià" facies. Located in the Catalan central depression (Solsonès, Bages, Bergueda, Alt Urgell, Segarra and Anoia regions) and Andorra ("Tomba del Segudet" and "Feixa del Moro"), according to Castany (2008), these are a total of 101 structures. These kinds of structures share some similarities with the pit types, such as the flexed position of the deceased and the presence of varied and abundant grave goods (pottery, nuclei, flint lithic tools, axes and adzes, jewellery, etc.) (Gibaja et al. 2014).

Unfortunately, most of these structures were excavated at the beginning of the 20th century, so the available documentation is not always complete and, moreover, during this time, they were significantly damaged and even partially or completely destroyed. Thus, the exact number of the inhumed individuals is rarely known, and neither is the position in which they had been deposited. All these disadvantages make it difficult to determine their chronology.

However, it is difficult to completely assume a homogenous trend or typology for all the documented burials. As pointed out by Duboscq (2017), the type of burial, the position of the bodies or the particularities of the grave goods are variable. Despite this, categorising the burials into different types was a task that was necessary to allow a global pattern analysis to be performed that would go beyond a mere description of each individual type.