RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 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)
A1 Santana Cabrera, Jonathan Alberto
A1 Iriarte Avilés, Eneko
A1 Teira, Luis .
A1 García Tojal, Javier
A1 Muñiz Álvarez, Juan Ramón
A1 Ibáñez, Juan José .
K1 Cremation
K1 Human taphonomy
K1 Burial practice
K1 Pre-pottery neolithic
K1 Jordan
K1 Arqueología
K1 Archaeology
K1 Paleontología
K1 Paleontology
AB 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.
PB Springer
SN 1866-9557
YR 2020
FD 2020-05
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10259/9784
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10259/9784
LA eng
NO The research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grant HAR2016-74999-P) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (European Commission, no. GA 750460; H2020-MSCA-IF-2016). This research was also funded by Palarq Foundation and Consejería de Educación CyL and FEDER BU291P18, BU022G18, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness CTQ2016-75023-C2-1-P, and Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities CTQ (QMC) RED2018-102471-T MultiMetDrugs Network and RTI2018-101923-J-I00.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos
RD 22-dic-2024