Co-author J.N. Lanting When dating unburnt bone, the organic fraction of the bone, bone collagen, is used. This material does not survive the heat of the cremation pyre and dating cremated bone has been considered an impossibility.... more
Co-author J.N. Lanting When dating unburnt bone, the organic fraction of the bone, bone collagen, is used. This material does not survive the heat of the cremation pyre and dating cremated bone has been considered an impossibility. Recently, one of the authors realised that some of the so-called structural carbonate in the mineral fraction of the bone should survive the cremation process and could be used for dating purposes. This paper outlines briefly the background to the method and describes the testing which included samples of cremated and unburnt bone from several Irish sites, including Grange, Co. Roscommon, Topped Mountain, Co. Fermanagh, Ballintubrid, co. Wexford, Reanascreana South. Co. Cork, Fopre, Co. Westmeath and Ballydavis, Co. Laois.
