A Study of the Contents of Funerary Pottery from the Megalithic Tombs of Roknia and Bounouara (Eastern Algeria): A Symbolic and Analytical Approach

This study presents an in-depth analysis of selected ceramic vessels recovered from megalithic funerary contexts at the Roknia and Bounouara sites in eastern Algeria.Through a multi-dimensional approach combining morphological, technological, contextual, and symbolic criteria, the research seeks to elucidate the ritual and symbolic functions of funerary pottery.The classification of the ceramic assemblage is based on precise typological features, the analysis of material contents such as bone and food remains, and the spatial patterns of deposition within the graves.The findings reveal that, despite their formal resemblance to domestic pottery, these vessels were deliberately selected and employed within a structured ritual system that reflects Berber conceptions of death, transition to the afterlife, and the ceremonial honoring of the deceased.The study highlights a collective awareness of funerary symbolism and suggests parallels with broader Mediterranean and Saharan mortuary practices.This integrative approach affirms the role of pottery as a material medium bearing religious, social, and cultural significance, and contributes to reconstructing mortuary belief systems in North African prehistoric communities during the Late Prehistoric period.