Multi-proxy analyses reveal regional cremation practices and social status at the Late Bronze Age site of Herstal, Belgium

Strontium isotopes and concentrations in cremated bones suggest an increased salt consumption in Gallo-Roman diet

“…Since a bioavailable Sr map for Belgium is not yet developed 72 , only preliminary results based on limited plant sample sizes are available 8 , 73 . While around Herstal and Fize-le-Marsal some plant data was already published 8 , 73 , around Destelbergen, six new sampling locations were selected (Fig. 1 ) within 10 km of the site.…”

“…Additionally, in relatively close proximity to each other and located further inland in the Meuse basin, two more sites serve as reference data. Metal Ages cemetery Herstal “Pré Wigier” delivered already published results 8 . The cemetery Fize-le-Marsal “Beauflot-Pivache” revealed Gallo-Roman burials on which new analyses were performed.…”

Strontium isotope analyses of archaeological cremated remains – new data and perspectives

“…Sabaux et al. [5] ). It is important to talk here about cremation deposits and not individuals as, when working with cremated human remains (and commingled remains in general), it is difficult to say if all the bones belonged to a single individual or not.…”

Assessing the preservation of biogenic strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) in the pars petrosa ossis temporalis of unburnt human skeletal remains: A case study from Saba

“…After pioneering experimental research by Harbeck et al, 3 another experimental study by Snoeck et al 5 convincingly demonstrated that the process of cremation at high temperatures (calcination) does not alter biogenic 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and opened up the strontium isotope method to be applied to cremated remains in archaeological contexts. 9,10,[33][34][35] In fact, the first application of strontium isotope analyses to PP by Harvig et al obtained 87 Sr/ 86 Sr in both cremated and inhumed skeletal remains to assess the reliability of the petrous as a sampling element for strontium isotope mobility studies. 4 To our knowledge, this study represents the only study conducted to date to measure 87 Sr/ 86 Sr in unburnt PP.…”

“…A study by Jørkov and colleagues, 2 however, highlighted the point that the otic capsule of the petrous portion of the temporal bone is also a suitable proxy for stable isotope studies of the early dietary patterns similar to enamel, as it does not appear to undergo remodelling once fully formed in infancy/early childhood. After pioneering experimental research by Harbeck et al, 3 another experimental study by Snoeck et al 5 convincingly demonstrated that the process of cremation at high temperatures (calcination) does not alter biogenic 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and opened up the strontium isotope method to be applied to cremated remains in archaeological contexts 9,10,33–35 …”