What remains how. Archaeological and experimental charcoal features from cremation burials in the Rhineland.

Abstract

This study investigates Roman-dated cremation relicts, i.e., charcoals as remnants of the pyre burning process and their potential for interpretation. Results are reported for analyses executed by the author at the Laboratory of Archaeobotany of the Institute of Prehistory at the University of Cologne within the longtime project "Archaeobotany in North-Rhine Westphalia". The study area comprises sites mainly in the Lower Rhine Bay (Niederrheinische Bucht). In total, 21 different wood types could be identified from charcoals from 278 burial cremations, typically with beech (Fagus) and oak (Quercus) occurring at highest frequencies. However, most wood types occur in very low frequencies. Few of the rarely occurring wood types, e.g. fir (Abies), hornbeam (Carpinus), maple (Acer), belong to primary grave goods. Some of the excavated charcoal features confirm ancient written and illustrated sources reporting cremation types (bustum, ustrina) and pyre construction. A comparison of archaeologically and experimentally gained charcoal amounts of bustum burials point to pyre sizes.