Macroscopic analysis

The study includes the primary macroscopic examination of samples from selected assemblages, including primary pyre sites and burned human remains from urn-burials from well-documented archaeological sites. Features of interest related to the effect of fire on the human remains involve color change, propagation of fractures, and changes to the mechanical strength of the bone, e.g., shrinkage, deformation, and warping.

In addition, skeletal representation, estimation of the minimum number of the individuals, fragmentation, and weight of the represented burned remains often hold significant implications in terms of the processing strategies of cremated bone and social factors that may have affected the collection as well as the final deposition of the burned remains. The main objectives of the macroscopic study are to assess the treatment strategies for burned bones and investigate the social factors that correlate to and affect the funerary ritual in which fire is involved.