Bronze Age ‘Barrows’ and Funerary Rites and Rituals of Cremation

Abstract

This paper discusses the evidence for pyre sites, debris, and technology associated with the disposal of cremated human remains in Bronze Age 'barrows'. The use of the terms such as 'cremation', 'cremation burial', and 'cremation-related feature' are examined. The types of evidence for the remains of cremation-related activities which survive on archaeological sites are described with examples and compared with the results of modern experimental data. It is concluded that a wealth of information may be recovered in relation to the funerary rites and rituals of cremation and that Bronze Age barrows hold a potentially unique position in being able to provide evidence of various aspects of the funerary activity under one 'mound'. While the archaeological components within different types of cremation-related features are often the same, it is the relationship between the various components within the deposit which have the potential to assist in our understanding of aspects of procedure, rites, and rituals attendant on the disposal of the dead by means of cremation.

Research potential and limitations of trace analyses of cremated remains

“….) until 1000 8C, which is a temperature reached by recent crematories and even by prehistoric funeral pyres [33]. Tibiae sections I and II were heated for one and a half hours each, whereas tibia sections for sample III were cremated for 4 h.…”

Evidence for artificial magnetite coating on Iberian armoury

“…Upper temperature limits achieved during a cremation process can be very high, reaching about 950-1000 °C, as proven by investigations on incinerated bones, melted bronze, etc. [27][28][29][30][31][32] found in cremation burials. The structure type indicates that the cooling of the weapons occurred using severe temperature gradients, leaving at room temperature carbon saturated Figura 5.…”

Towards an Archaeology of Cremation

“…For example, in considering cremated materials from archaeological contexts from the British Bronze Age, McKinley (1997) warns against lumping all cremated materials into the label 'cremations'. Cremated bones can derive from many different contexts connected to contrasting stages of the cremation process.…”

“…To do this, detailed methodologies (McKinley, 1994(McKinley, , 1997Sigvallius, 2005) as well as theoretical bases for understanding the character and the variability of cremation in past mortuary practices are required. To this end, the chapter aims at sketching the elements that will allow a theorised approach to be developed to the archaeology of cremation.…”