Alekseev Iurii Andreevich

Introduction. Сomparative data from modern crematoria or experimental cremations of animal carcasses are often used to reconstruct the process of ancient cremations, although this data is not relevant. The goals of this study are to measure the duration of complete body burning; to analyze correlation between the body length and constitution and the body burning duration: to identify general patterns of body destruction process during cremation on a pyre.

Materials and methods. The materials (166 observations of cremations: 96 male, 56 female, 14 of unknown gender) were obtained during the Russian-Indian anthropological expedition of the Paleoethnology Research Center and the State Biology Museum in 2018, 2019 and 2022. The duration of complete incineration of soft tissues was recorded, as well as the body size and the constitution, using three-point assessment scales. In addition, the composition and condition of the cremated bone remains were described. To analyze the differences between samples of individuals with different body sizes and constitution, bivariate graphs and statistical criteria for assessing the differences were used.

Results and discussion. The average time of human body burning during cremation on a pyre was determined. A positive correlation between the duration of cremation and the body size and mesomorphy was found, and a negative correlation between the duration of cremation and ecto- and endomorphy was found. This pattern can be explained by the fact that significant volumes of soft tissues (especially poorly burning muscle tissue) require more time to burn; the predominance of adipose tissue contributes to faster body combustion. The proximal epiphyses of the tibia, distal epiphyses of the femur and vertebral bodies, as well as fragments of the integumentary bones of the skull and diaphyses of the femur, tibia and fibula are best preserved during cremation. The influence of the pyre design and the cremator's activity on the nature of body destruction was noted.

Conclusion. The hypothetical assumption of a positive correlation between body size and the time of its combustion was confirmed empirically. Numerous data on the time required for the complete destruction of soft tissue during cremation on a pyre have been introduced into scholarly discourse. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. Cremated skeletal remains are characterized by a high degree of fragmentation, which occurs both due to physical processes in the bone tissue and due to the actions of people who cremate the corpse. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between the type of bone tissue, the degree of bone fragmentation, and the degree of burning of the organic component during cremation on a pyre.

Materials and methods. The materials (178 observations of the contents of fire pits) were obtained during the Russian-Indian anthropological expedition of the Paleoethnological Research Center and the State Biology Museum in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Observations were conducted in the city of Agra on the territory of the Tajganj cremation center. The duration of complete incineration of soft tissues was recorded, as well as the body size and the somatotype, using three-point assessment scales. In addition, the composition and condition of the cremated skeletal elements were described. Statistical tests for assessing the significance of differences were used to compare samples of spongy and compact bone tissue.

Results and discussion. The spongy bone of the vertebrae, sacrum and pelvis demonstrates a greater degree of destruction than the spongy bone of the femoral and tibial epiphyses. This is probably due to consequence of microstructural differences in the structure of spongy bones. The ochre color is more often observed in the spongy bone, and gray color – in the compact, which is explained by a larger proportion (and, accordingly, a lower degree of burnout) of organic matter in the spongy bone compared to the compact. A significant frequency of black color was recorded on the compact tissue of the long bone diaphyses, which is associated with the combustion of bone marrow under conditions of oxygen deficiency.

Conclusion. The duration and intensity of the flames of funeral pyres may not be sufficient to completely burn out the organic component of the bone. Significant fragmentation of skeletal remains can be achieved without intensive mechanical action. The degree of fragmentation of skeletal elements is not affected by the type of funeral pyre, the size and somatotype of the body, or the sex or age of the deceased.