The application of quantitative petrography and macroscopic colour change in a comparative analysis of Roman and Anglo-Saxon cremation practices

Abstract

The microscopic examination of burned bone has allowed cremation research to infer a wealth of information concerning burning practices and pyre technology from archaeological contexts. Recently, a new approach for quantifying the microscopic heat-induced alterations in burned bone to categorise burning intensity using petrography has been developed within histomorphological studies. The following study is the first application of quantitative petrography to examine cremated remains from two archaeological contexts, with the aim of comparing funerary practices from Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England. Fifteen burials from the Roman cemetery of Folly Lane, Hertfordshire, and 16 burials from the Anglo-Saxon cemetery of Elsham, North Lincolnshire, were studied, with individuals ranging in age and sex. Analysis revealed a mix of burning intensities, with the majority of the Roman samples2 from Folly Lane (n = 10, 66.7%) achieving temperatures over 1000°C. In contrast, the Anglo-Saxon samples from Elsham showed greater diversity in burning intensity, with only six (37.5%) reaching temperatures in excess of 1000°C. The discussion suggests this differentiation is due to the use of ustores, or professional cremators at the Roman town of Verulamium, a custom that has been referenced amongst the Roman elite in literary sources. This assessment demonstrates how quantitative petrography combined with macroscopic colour change is an effective assessment of burning intensities from archaeological burned bone and should be applied on a larger scale, with a greater sample size across more sites.