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Death and Fire: Investigating changes and specialisation in cremation practices in Belgium through time and space.

par Stamataki, Elisavet
Président du jury Goderis, Steven
Promoteur Vercauteren, Martine ;Snoeck, Christophe
Co-Promoteur Mulder, Guy De
Publication Non publié, 2025-09-03

Thèse de doctorat

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Résumé :

Cremation was the dominant funerary practice in Belgium from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period, yet little is known about how it was performed and by whom. This doctoral research investigates diachronic changes and regional variability in cremation practices in Belgium, with a specific focus on the role and technical expertise of the cremator, the person responsible for constructing and managing the pyre. By combining experimental archaeology with a multi-sampling and multi-proxy analytical strategy, this study introduces a novel approach to understand past funerary practices.The thesis applies Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses (δ13C, δ18O), and strontium isotope ratios and concentrations (87Sr/86Sr, δ88Sr, [Sr]) to both experimental and archaeological samples. A series of controlled outdoor and laboratory burning experiments was conducted to evaluate how combustion conditions, such as pyre temperature, body position, seasonality, fuel type, and the presence of clothing or footwear, affect the structural and chemical composition of bone. These experiments highlight the importance of controlled, replicable scenarios for understanding archaeological cremation data meaningfully.Archaeological case studies from the Scheldt and Meuse River basins were also analysed to evaluate regional traditions and the impact of Roman influence on funerary behaviour. Results from the Metal Ages revealed significant differences in cremation conditions between the two regions, likely reflecting distinct cultural traditions (i.e., Atlantic vs Continental). In the Roman period, cremation became more standardised, yet variations persisted, especially in chronologically transitional sites like Fouches, which retained characteristics of earlier practices. Strontium isotope data revealed a concurrent dietary shift, with Roman-period individuals consuming more salt-rich foods, while sites like Fouches, transitional between the Iron and the Roman period, showed mixed dietary signatures similar to the other sites from the Bronze and Iron Age sites.This thesis demonstrates the interpretive power of integrating experimental archaeology and multiple analytical techniques with cremated remains. By tracing cultural continuity and transformation in cremation practices, the research redefines our understanding of funerary practices in northwestern Europe and offers a replicable framework for cremation studies in other regions and chronological periods.