title: [Cremation--biological source for gender research].
abstract: This article presents a project designed for prehistoric gender research. It focuses on the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age urnfield in Cottbus "Alvensleben-Kaserne", Brandenburg. The cremation remains were emptied from the urns layer by layer. This provided excellent conditions for a critical reconstruction of the funeral rituals related to the cremation. Detailed recording of each bone fragment in each layer made possible the discovery of the ritual deposition of burnt bones according to the anatomical order. Cremated bones, a primarily biological source, are also a substantial resource for cultural historical research, e.g., on funeral practices as well as social structures.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Abteilung Historische Anthropologie und Humanökologie, Universität Göttingen. birgit.grosskopf@biologie.uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grosskopf
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gramsch
mesh_terms: D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D002048:Burial / Q000266:history*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005655:Funeral Rites / Q000266:history*; D005783:Gender Identity; D005858:Germany; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009027:Mortuary Practice / Q000266:history*; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis