Duration: 2018-2020
Abstract: The practice of cremation is often interpreted as an alternative to inhumation, shortly taking place after an individuals’ death. However, cremation could be a final stage in complex mortuary practices of bodily manipulation. At the Chalcolithic site of Perdigões (3rd millennium BC, Portugal), cremated remains of over 150 individuals were found and their pre-burning condition (fleshed vs unfleshed) is still one unsolved question since it cannot be undoubtedly assessed using currently available methods. This project employs a newly developed approach of cortical bone and dental histology to assess presence or absence of bio-erosion to investigate pre-cremation manipulation.
Coordinator: Simone Lemmers
Participants: David Gonçalves (CIAS)
Partner institutions: The Cyprus Institute, University of Leicester
Financial support: British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaelogy