Death and Fire: Investigating changes and specialisation in cremation practices in Belgium during the Metal Ages.

Description

Cremated human bones are commonly found in Belgian
archaeological contexts from the Metal Ages (Early Bronze Age to
the Late Iron Age). Due to high temperatures reached during burning
(up to 1000°C), organic components of bone disappear and
significant structural, chemical and isotopic changes to the inorganic
fraction of bone (bone apatite) take place. These changes, along with
post-burial/taphonomic alterations make the study of cremated
human remains extremely challenging. Despite these limitations,
cremated bones play an increasingly important role in understanding
ancient societies in which cremation was the dominant funerary
practice. A huge diversity exits in the way cremation was practiced. It
is related to the different attitudes of ancient communities towards
death and different managements and treatments of the dead body.
The aim of this project is to combine ethnographical evidence,
experimental archaeology and state of the art analytical techniques
to assess changes in the way cremation was carried out in Belgium
and beyond from the Early Bronze Age to the Late Iron Age with a
particular focus on the skills and specialisation of the cremator(s) (i.e.
the person(s) carrying out the cremation). Understanding differences
within and between archaeological sites represent a fundamental
part of this project as it enables the study of the evolution of
cremation funerary practices through time and space.

Periode	2 mrt. 2020
Gehouden op	Fonds Wetenschapelijk Onderzoek - FWO, Belgium
Mate van erkenning	International