Were people originally buried in pine coffins as part of existing belief that pine was magical?
Yes, Attis was the Dying God and pine was sacred to him. As the resurrected god of the Easter system one appealed to Baal-Easter or Ashtoreth to resurrect the individual as Attis was resurrected. This does not mean that every one who gets buried in a pine box is a worshipper of Baal Ashtoreth, as it is a common and cheap material, but if it is a specific of their religion it probably comes from the influence of the black cassocked khemarim or priests of Baal.
