Final answer:
Grave goods are items accompanying a deceased person in a burial, meant for use in the afterlife or to denote status. Examples include the opulent adornments from the Moche Royal Tombs or the practical ceramic items from Han Dynasty graves. They highlight ancient customs and social structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Grave goods are items buried along with a deceased individual, intended to serve the person in the afterlife or signify their status or achievements during their lifetime. Across various cultures, these goods might include items such as jewelry, tools, weapons, and pottery. For instance, within the Moche Royal Tombs, gold-and turquoise-laden jewelry were common grave goods reflecting the wealth and status of the buried individual. Another type of grave good is the ceramic wellhead and bucket from Han Dynasty burials, serving as everyday items that the deceased might need in the afterlife. The inclusion of grave goods in burials provides valuable insights into the beliefs, customs, and social hierarchies of ancient cultures. These practices are often associated with the desire to ensure a comfortable afterlife for the deceased or to symbolize the social rank that they held in life, as seen in the belongings interred with high-status individuals in tombs like the Oseberg burial mound and the Regolini-Galassi tomb.