In 1984, Somersan reported the results of a cross-cultural study of
ancestral spirit, afterlife, and reincarnation beliefs in relation to
descent groups. She claimed significance on each of four tests and
described a pattern of "death symbolism" that seemed to typify
matrilineal societies in contrast to those organized in other ways.
None of her findings were supported in this replication study.
However, an alternative hypothesis, contrasting unilineal and bilateral societies, was supported.
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