Thermal alteration of buried bone

Burned bone is a common component of archaeological deposits traditionally associated with cremations, culinary activities, waste disposal, fuel use and a by-product of naturally occurring fires. Such interpretations assume responsible agents act upon bone prior to deposition or burial. This sequential relationship between heating and burial is challenged by the suggestion that post-burial alteration of bone is not only possible, but can serve to explain the condition of burned material recovered in certain situations. Exposure to heat following burial incorporates several additional variables. The sediment in which bone is deposited, duration of exposure to a heat source, and the interval between burial and burning affect the degree and extent of thermal alteration. Experiments have been conducted to test the hypotheses and parameters surrounding subsurface (i.e. post-burial) alteration by surface fires.