“Dead or deadier: the contribution of heat-induced bone changes for the interpretation of funerary behaviour”
David Gonçalves
Research Center for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Portugal
Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico (IGESPAR), Rua da Bica do Marquês 2, 1300-087 Lisboa, Portugal
Heat is responsible for a number of alterations on bones. Changes in colour, size, warping and the emergence of fractures are macroscopic heat-induced features frequently seen in burned bones. In particular, warping and thumbnail fractures have been often linked to the burning of fleshed and green bones in contrast to dry bones. As a result, both these features have been pointed out as indicators of the pre-cremation condition of the human remains thus allowing for inferences regarding funerary behaviour and practice.
In order to investigate this issue, a sample of 61 skeletons submitted to cremation was examined and checked for the presence of heat-induced warping and thumbnail fractures. Although unusual, both these features were found after the cremation of dry skeletons thus demonstrating that they are not exclusive indicators of the burning of fleshed and green bones. Therefore, the interpretation of funerary behaviour based on heat-related warping and thumbnail fractures must be carried out with extreme caution and supported by other evidences.
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