What evidence suggests that early humans practiced burial rituals?

The evidence that early humans practiced burial rituals is strongly supported by findings of grave sites where remains have been deliberately arranged, often accompanied by artifacts. This pattern indicates a level of care and intention behind the burial process, suggesting that early humans may have believed in an afterlife or had cultural practices involving the treatment of their dead. The presence of artifacts, such as tools, weapons, or personal items, further implies that these burials were not random but held significance, reflecting social and spiritual values of the group.

In contrast to this, documents detailing daily lives or descriptive accounts from later civilizations do not provide direct evidence of burial customs in early human history; they are more reflective of those societies' perspectives rather than the practices of early humans. Similarly, randomly scattered bones without context do not indicate the deliberate actions associated with burial rituals and lack the organized structure that characterizes gravesites known for burial practices. Thus, the evidence from grave sites with arranged remains and accompanying artifacts stands out as the most compelling support for the practice of burial rituals among early humans.