Fragments of a clay container discovered in Tomb UU at Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus.Credit: Teresa Bürge et al. / CC BY 4.0
[GreekReporter, "Burned Flowers in Ancient Cyprus Tombs Reveal 3,400-Year-Old Rituals"]
Posted on 10/15/2026 8:12:13 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Mourners living in Cyprus some 3,400 years ago may have burned bouquets of whole plants during burial ceremonies, according to the Greek Reporter. Charred plant remains were found in four tombs at Hala Sultan Tekke, the site of an ancient harbor city on the island's southeastern coast. Teresa Bürge of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and her colleagues detected burnt plant remains in two ceramic jugs recovered from one of the tombs. Analysis of the residues determined that one of the vessels held barley, several varieties of wheat, figs, lentils, marigold, chrysanthemum, mallow, and viola. A Mycenaean-style jar in another tomb contained evidence of cereals, wild grasses, and flowering plants such as poppy and centaury. Traces of edible plants, including barley, olives, and grapes, were found in the other two tombs. Cedar and cypress wood found in one of the graves may have been burned for smoke and scent during the funeral. For more on excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke, go to "In the Time of the Copper Kings."
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
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Fragments of a clay container discovered in Tomb UU at Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus.Credit: Teresa Bürge et al. / CC BY 4.0
[GreekReporter, "Burned Flowers in Ancient Cyprus Tombs Reveal 3,400-Year-Old Rituals"]
Native Americans burn tobacco.
Boomers burn marijuana.........
Film at 11.
(it is also possible that these things were offerings. Since smoke rises it was a common human belief that the essence of those offering would rise to the heavens. Either as bribes for the deities to keep them or as bribes to the dead so they don't come back.)
An ancient Cypriot grave from 9500 years ago had a cat buried alongside the person—the earliest known example of that.
And who doesn’t love the smell of bacon? Even if the pork is long. As for cats, they are awesome, as are dogs. But cats are slightly above. Just ask them.
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