Limitations and potential of analyses of cremation remains - Anthropological analysis of bone remains from a Lusatian culture cremation cemetery in Paszowice (Lower Silesia, Poland).

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to identify which components of the skeleton are best identifiable after cremation, because only few publications pay attention to the best-preserved bone structures in cremation burials. However, such knowledge offers potential for further analysis and methodology development. One of the most frequently and best-identifiable parts of the skeleton were fragments of vertebrae and long bones epiphyses. Similarly, well preserved are structures made of compact bone tissue, for instance, temporal bone pyramids considered as the hardest components of the mammalian skeleton. Analysed cremated human bones remains came from a Lusatian culture settlement burial site situated in Paszowice (Lower Silesia, Poland). The research has been carried out on material consisting of remains of at least 673 individuals found in 649 burial pits. Among them, 279 burials belonged to adults and 102 to children. It was possible to identify sex in the case of 25% of adult individuals - 40 males and 33 females. In the remaining cases, the attempts to determine the sex and age-at-death have failed. During the analysis some degenerative changes were noted. The analysed material also included 23 multiple burials, usually double and one triple. The study was also aimed at illustrating the elements of the funeral rite. The material excavated from 27 burials suggested that the remains had been retrieved from the pyre with particular care - in some of those urns, the arrangement of remains was modelled on the anatomical system of the human skeleton. The grade of combustion of most bones remains in the necropolis in Paszowice ranged from high to very high. In few cases in the grave were found burned animal remains.