Description
Cremation was the main funerary practice in Belgium during the Late Bronze Age (LBA), the Iron Age, and the Roman period. As a result, burnt human remains are commonly found in Belgian archaeological contexts. Despite the limitations in the study of burnt bones because of the exposure to high temperatures (up to 1000°C), recent developments in Infrared Spectroscopy and carbon and oxygen isotope analysis indicate that the study of burnt bones provides important information regarding pyre technology and body management in ancient societies. In combination with analytical techniques, experimental archaeology through the reconstruction of funerary pyres also contributes to increasing our knowledge regarding the effect of fire on the human body and the thermal decomposition of skeletal remains.The aim of this study is to investigate how seasonality affects the way cremation was performed in past societies by combining experimental archaeology and state-of-the-art analytical techniques. For this reason, the 4 legs of a pig were burned in outdoor pyres. Each leg was burned in a different season (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) in the same location and using the same type and amount of fuel and the same pyre structure. The spectroscopic and isotopic results of the experimentally burned bones indicate that the season where cremation takes place influences the way cremation is performed. More specifically, there is a statistically significant difference in δ13C (‰) and δ18O (‰) values among the leg that was burned in winter and the legs that were burnt in spring and summer.
| Periode | 2 dec 2023 → 3 dec 2023 |
|---|---|
| Evenementstitel | ScapeCon 6. Contextualizing Fire in Aegean Prehistory. |
| Evenementstype | Conference |
| Conferentienummer | 6 |
| Locatie | Thessaloniki, Greece |
| Mate van erkenning | International |