Which period is recognized for the development of complete burial practices?

The Neolithic period is recognized for the development of complete burial practices because it marked a significant transition in human society from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural communities. During this time, people began to establish permanent settlements, which in turn led to more complex social structures and cultural practices, including funerary customs.

As agriculture provided a more stable food supply, communities had the resources to invest in burial practices that reflected their beliefs about the afterlife and respect for the deceased. This period saw the emergence of formal graves, often marked and sometimes elaborate, with personal objects included in burial sites. Such practices indicate a deeper understanding of mortality and a tendency to honor the dead, which was less developed in the preceding Mesolithic period where burial practices were minimal and often consisted of simple inhumations.

The other periods mentioned—Medieval, Modern, and Industrial—reflected different social, cultural, and economic contexts that influenced burial practices but were not the initial timeframe during which complete burial customs were established.