Emergence of corpse cremation during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic of the Southern Levant: A multidisciplinary study of a pyre-pit burial

Abstract

Renewed excavations at the Neolithic site of Beisamoun (Upper Jordan Valley, Israel) has resulted in the discovery of the earliest occurrence of an intentional cremation in the Near East directly dated to 7031–6700 cal BC (Pre-Pottery Neolithic C, also known as Final PPNB, which spans ca. 7100–6400 cal BC). The funerary treatment involved in situ cremation within a pyre-pit of a young adult individual who previously survived from a flint projectile injury. In this study we have used a multidisciplinary approach that integrates archaeothanatology, spatial analysis, bioanthropology, zooarchaeology, soil micromorphological analysis, and phytolith identification in order to reconstruct the different stages and techniques involved in this ritual: cremation pit construction, selection of fuel, possible initial position of the corpse, potential associated items and funerary containers, fire management, post-cremation gesture and structure abandonment. The origins and development of cremation practices in the region are explored as well as their significance in terms of Northern-Southern Levantine connections during the transition between the 8th and 7th millennia BC. The bones are distributed throughout the bottom of the pit, partly superimposed one on the other to a thickness of 40 cm. However, the density of remains was not very marked except at the centre of the pit ( Fig 6 ). If there was an apparent anatomical disorder at first glance, by looking at the details some interesting patterning could be observed. Cranial and mandibular fragments were found only in the southern half of the structure. Next to the south wall on the upper level, we found the base of the skull (mandible reversed and occipital fragments); the rest of the cranial vault and face (frontal, maxillars, parietals and temporals) were found slightly lower down at the centre of the pit. Conversely, the cervical vertebrae were dispersed out from the centre to the northern half of the pit. The thoracic column and some of the ribs were concentrated in the centre, roughly following a west-east direction. The lumbar vertebrae were found in the middle and against the south-western wall of the structure with several vertebral fragments in close proximity to the sacrum, coccyx and the left coxal. The right coxal is found diametrically opposite to this coherent group, lying almost complete not far from the north-eastern wall of the pit. Altogether, despite an absence of articulated joints and dispersion of certain elements, the bones of the axial skeleton show some anatomical coherence.

Multi-isotope evidence of population aggregation in the Natufian and scant migration during the early Neolithic of the Southern Levant

“…The data gathered by this study also supports the idea of low or local-level human mobility/migration patterns during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic and offers firm, direct evidence of short and long-distance networks (e.g., exchange of Anatolian obsidian) 30 , 76 and cultural transmission across the Near East 31 , 84 , 85 . Moreover, the exchange networks of the Southern Levant did not require significant migration or long-term migration flows.…”

Histološka i makromorfološka metoda analize spaljenih kosti ljudi i životinja na primjeru rimskodobnih grobova sjeverozapadne nekropole Siscije (Sisak, Hrvatska)

“…May ukazuje na neke od čimbenika, poput tjelesnoga indeksa mase osobe, spola i doživljene starosti koji utječu na masu spaljenoga tijela s gotovo 67%, ali i na regionalne razlike između mase tijela i mase spaljenih ostataka (May 2011). Novija istraživanja ističu nužnost uključivanja tafonomskih, kemijskih istraživanja te važnost konteksta (Bocquentin et al 2020). tehnika i procesi spaljivanja tijela u modernim krematorijima znatno se razlikuju od spaljivanja pokojnika na lomačama od komada drveta u Indiji koje gore na otvorenoj vatri (Parry 1994;Rambachan 2003).…”

“…May points to some of the factors, such as body mass index, gender, and age at death, that affect burned body mass by almost 67%, but also regional differences between body weight and mass of burned remains (May 2011). Recent research highlights the need to include taphonomic, chemical research and the importance of context (Bocquentin et al 2020). the technique and processes of cremation in modern crematoria are significantly different from the cremation at pyres made of pieces of wood in India, which burn over an open fire (Parry 1994;Rambachan 2003).…”

Visual inventories and field note templates for contextualised recording of human remains

“…Such visual inventory sheets have been published in the past in the English-language literature (e.g. Meiklejohn and Constandse-Westermann, 1978;Buikstra and Ubelaker, 1994;Roksandic, 2003;Brickley, 2004;Knüsel and Outram, 2004;Baker et al, 2005). In France, visual inventories are used fairly systematically, both for field and laboratory work.…”

“…It is then possible to modify the layout, bone by bone for instance with the pathfinder tool, which makes this operation quick and easy. This will result in a partially shaded skeleton relating to the preserved assemblage of bones (see for instance Bocquentin et al, 2020). Any suggestions for modifications or integration into software are welcome, provided that this article is cited.…”