Clearly, it's best to be buried in a pineapple...

In Ghana, the Ga tribe have put a spin on traditional inhumation.  They love to celebrate their dead by burying them in custom-designed coffins specifically representing an aspect of that individual's life.  Coffins are diverse and colourful and can be "a car if they were a driver, a fish if their livelihood was the sea -- or a sewing machine for a seamstress. They might also symbolize a vice -- such as a bottle of beer or a cigarette" (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/photo.day.php?ID=52081).

The Ga believe that the dead go into an afterlife and the coffin acts as a sort of house so they must be living in style!

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/photo.day.php?ID=52081&VOLGNR=5

Above is a pineapple coffin!  Winners of coffin design competitions can earn between 5 and 6 million Cedis (or 500-600 US dollars).

It appears that these coffins are made out of wood, so the coffins unfortunately would not preserve in the archaeological record.  If the Ga could find a bog to throw the coffin into then it could preserve but I'm not sure if coastal Ghana has that kind of climate!

Grave Goods

My love of horses was the first thing that came to my mind when I started thinking of goods I would like to have placed in my grave.  All of my tack that I've purchased over time and consider to be very valuable would have to go into my grave! 

This includes my saddle, bridles and various other pieces of riding tack.  Unfortunately, with it being leather, the only parts that would preserve would be the stirrup irons on the saddle, the bits on the bridles, and all the buckles. 

Those that know me understand the importance of horses and riding in my life and having related items as grave goods would definitely give an impression of my connection to horses. Since the time when horses first came to be ridden in saddles and bridles, the basic idea of the saddle and bridle with the metal stirrup irons and metal bit has not changed.  If archaeologists found my grave in the future they would probably know what the stirrup irons, bits and buckles were all about and say "Ha!  This is a horse person!"

Introduction

My name is Krysti and I am in my final semester at UVic.  I am an Anthropology major and am taking this course primarily for interest.  I find archaeology fascinating, especially in relation to burials and funerary practices.

Outside of school, I work part-time at the Victoria Airport and train and compete in equestrian sport.  I also became engaged over the holidays, so I will be busy planning a wedding and looking for a house to buy.  Along with that and school, I am currently an applicant to the RCMP and hope to get hired sometime next year!