Expert: Leon Gork - 11/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: Are there any indications of any kind anywhere in the Mediterranean area that something was placed in the mouth of the deceased - similar to pagan traditions in, say, England?

ANSWER: Yes, Coins were found in the mouths of many corpses found in archaeological excavations in Israel.

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QUESTION: Were these Roman burials or Israelite?

Can you speak to locations other than present-day Israel and Italy?

Do you know of any objects other than coins, e.g., seed?

Answer
The archaeologist claims the coins were found in a Jewish Burial site in Jericho. See The Biblical Archaeologist http://www.jstor.org/pss/3209825 for more details on this subject. I don't know of seed that was found in any burial tomb. I suggest you check The Biblical Archaeologist for more information.