Original scientific paper
Fire and Bones: Bronze Age III in the North-Eastern Iberian Peninsula
Maria Eulàlia Subirà
Jordi Ruiz
Marina Guardiola-Bufí
Abstract
Between the third millennium BP and the fifth century AD, there are numerous necropolises that house urns in the
Iberian Peninsula. One example is the »Pi de la Lliura« (Vidreres, Girona). However, there is a dearth of research concerning
these structures. The »Pi de la Lliura« housed 43 structures, which contained a total of 47 vessels with human
remains. Of these 43 structures, 22 were totally or partially excavated at the laboratory. The evidence from the fragments
indicates cremation at a temperature of 650–700 °C. Part of the cremated corpse was then deposited in an urn. One of the
most unique characteristics of the necropolis is the high frequency of individuals younger than 20 years old. The mortality
of sub-adults is high in any prehistoric necropolis, but it is even higher in a cremation necropolis. »Pi de la Lliura« is
a very small necropolis, where corpses were treated similarly over a short period.
Keywords
human cremation; Bronze Age; NE Iberian Peninsula; Urn field
Hrčak ID:
69152
URI
Publication date:
24.6.2011.
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