Assessing body position through experimental cremation: A pilot study using colorimetry and FTIR-ATR analyses

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Archaeological Science
• Bioarchaeology

Background:

• Determining body position from cremated remains is challenging.
• Existing methods lack comprehensive analysis of burning patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate a multi-proxy approach for identifying horizontal positioning in cremated human and animal remains.
• Assess the influence of pre-burning condition, pyre placement, and pyre dynamics on lateralized burning patterns.

Main Methods:

• Conducted two experimental cremations using fleshed and dry pig crania.
• Employed macroscopic observation, fragmentation analysis, colorimetry, and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) mode.
• Analyzed differences between direct and indirect thermal contact areas.

Main Results:

• Lateralized thermal exposure differences were detectable under specific conditions.
• Direct contact areas showed lighter coloration and greater calcination compared to indirect contact areas (p < 0.005).
• Higher crystallinity (IRSF) and darker inner surfaces were observed, influenced by tissue shielding and burning conditions.

Conclusions:

• Combining colorimetry and FTIR-ATR analysis shows promise for detecting specific burning patterns in cremated remains.
• Methodological variables identified provide a foundation for future research on inferring body position from cremation studies.
• This study highlights the potential of multi-proxy analyses in forensic and archaeological contexts.