Crimes in the Past (Archaeopress 2021): 72–99 Сhapter 6 Comparative analysis of multiple burials from the Late Copper Age, Hungary Orsolya Laszlo-Mateovics, 1 Szilvia Fábián, 2 Kitti Köhler, 3 Tamás Hajdu 4 1 Coordination Department, Archaeological Heritage Directorate, Hungarian National Museum, laszlo.orsolya@hnm.hu 2 Scientific Research and Coordination Department, Archaeological Heritage Directorate, Hungarian National Museum, fabian.szilvia@hnm.hu 3 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Research Centre of Humanities, Institute of Archaeology, kohler.kitti@btk.mta.hu 4 Department of Anthropology, Eotvos Lorand University, hajdut@elte.hu Abstract Excavation and interpretation of multiple burials are a challenge for both archaeologists and anthropologists. In our work, we explore possible causes and formation processes of a multiple burial from the Copper Age recovered at Balatonszentgyörgy-Kenderföldek in 2017. The burial represents commingled remains with the most likely number of 22 individuals. We performed a complete assessment of the taphonomic parameters and the funerary behavior, and study the human remains, including cross- referencing the anthropological data with the spatial and stratigraphic information. These data were compared with other contemporary sites to reveal differences and similarities regarding this special kind of human activity. The results of the anthropological and archaeological analysis gave information about the depositional processes of the human remains and the usage of the settlement pit which also implies the ritual nature of the burial. Keywords: multiple burials, mortuary ritual activity, structural deposition, archaeothanatology, Late Copper Age Introduction Copper Age cemeteries in Hungary are well known for differentiation in burial treatments that were linked to gender, age, and social statuses (Bondár and Raczky 2009; Chapman 1997, 2000). Besides larege Copper Age cemeteries, burials can be found also inside the settlement areas. Mortuary items and body positioning typically indicate the gender, age, and identity of the deceased in this era (Chapman 2000a; Meisenheimer 1989; Sofaer-Derevenski 1997, 2000; Parkinson 2006a; Siklósi 2004; Skomal 1983). In typical Hungarian Copper Age burials, the skeletons lie on their left or right side in a flexed position, however, variations in body position can occur (Bondár and Raczky 2009; Pawn 2012). Especially Late Copper Age is also well-known from the presence of burials containing several individuals or showing special burial treatment of the body (e.g. unusual positions) which are mostly linked to settlements. In archaeology, sometimes these called ‘deviant or irregular burials’ with a meaning that these are different from the normative burial ritual of a respective period, region, or cemetery (Aspöck 2008: 17; Murphy 2008). At the same time, we cannot exclude, that these special forms