Final Neolithic and Bronze Age funerary practices and population dynamics in Belgium, the impact of radiocarbon dating cremated bones

The Final Neolithic and the Bronze Age (3000-800 BC) are periods of great transformations in the communities inhabiting the area of modern-day Belgium, as testified by archaeological evidence showing an increasing complexity in social structure, technological transformations, and large-scale contacts. By combining 599 available radiocarbon dates with 88 new C-14 dates from 23 from funerary sites, this paper uses kernel density estimates to model the temporality in the use of inhumation vs. cremation burials, cremation deposits in barrows vs. flat graves, and cremation grave types. Additionally... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Capuzzo, Giacomo
De Mulder, Guy
Sabaux, Charlotte
Dalle, Sarah
Boudin, Mathieu
Annaert, Rica
Hlad, Marta
Salesse, Kevin
Sengelov, Amanda
Stamataki, Elisavet
Veselka, Barbara
Warmenbol, Eugène
Snoeck, Christophe
Vercauteren, Martine
Dokumenttyp: journalarticle
Erscheinungsdatum: 2023
Schlagwörter: History and Archaeology / Belgium / Bronze Age / funerary practices / Neolithic / population dynamics
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28958107
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01GTD40E54RNJ6P63D2Q2KNZTW

The Final Neolithic and the Bronze Age (3000-800 BC) are periods of great transformations in the communities inhabiting the area of modern-day Belgium, as testified by archaeological evidence showing an increasing complexity in social structure, technological transformations, and large-scale contacts. By combining 599 available radiocarbon dates with 88 new C-14 dates from 23 from funerary sites, this paper uses kernel density estimates to model the temporality in the use of inhumation vs. cremation burials, cremation deposits in barrows vs. flat graves, and cremation grave types. Additionally, by including 78 dates from settlements, changes in population dynamics were reconstructed. The results suggest a phase of demographic contraction around ca. 2200-1800 BC highlighted by a lack of dates from both settlements and funerary contexts, followed by an increase in the Middle Bronze Age, with the coexistence of cremation deposits in barrows and, in a lower number, in flat graves. At the end of the 14th-13th century BC, an episode of cultural change with the almost generalized use of flat graves over barrows is observed. Regional differentiations in the funerary practices and the simultaneous use of different grave types characterize the Late Bronze Age.