2026-05-30T04:15:10Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/97842024-12-17T01:05:22Zcom_10259_3596com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259_3597

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Santana Cabrera, Jonathan Alberto author Iriarte Avilés, Eneko author Teira, Luis . author García Tojal, Javier author Muñiz Álvarez, Juan Ramón author Ibáñez, Juan José . author 2020-05 Cremation is an unusual burial practice in the Neolithic of the Near East. At Kharaysin, a Pre-Pottery Neolithic site in Jordan, we found a secondary burial with evidence of burnt human bones. This paper assesses (1) the intentionality of fire-induced alterations on human bones, (2) the pre-burning condition of the human remains, and (3) their significance within the burial customs of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic in the Near East. Burial SU-815 was a secondary multiple burial with burnt and unburnt human remains from at least three adult individuals. Directly dated at 8010 ± 30 BP (7058–6825 cal BC), it corresponds to the Late Pre-Potttery Neolithic B (LPPNB). Macroscopic changes in human remains were analysed to investigate the circumstances of burning. Some bones were selected for mineralogical and compositional analysis through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Colour changes, fractures, cracking, and chemical changes on bones were identified as resulting from fire-induced alterations. Our results show that the bones were intentionally burnt when they were already skeletonised or almost dry. This intentional manipulation using fire happened after other burial practices took place. After burning, the bones were collected and transported to this burial during a final episode. Fire-induced manipulation or cremation was not a significant development of the habitual burial practice, but evidence from Kharaysin shows an innovation in handling the human remains. Therefore, this case provides new insight into the complexity and variability of burial customs within the Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B in Southern Levant. 1866-9557 http://hdl.handle.net/10259/9784 10.1007/s12520-020-01065-7 1866-9565 Cremation Human taphonomy Burial practice Pre-pottery neolithic Jordan Transforming the ancestors: early evidence of fire-induced manipulation on human bones in the Near East from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B of Kharaysin (Jordan)