cremated bones

At www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art523965-archaeol… … and see also www.oxfordarchaeology.com/news/oaeast-news/369-archaeologists-uncover-ol… … during a pre-construction survey of a pipeline project in Essex archaeologists came across cremated (burnt) bones dating back to 5600BC. This date is firmly within the Mesolithic period and is interesting as cremation is normally associated with later periods in Britain – such as the Bronze and Iron ages. Very few burials from the Mesolithic era, 10,000-4250BC, are known in Britain – and no cremations. However, three cremations are known from the Mesolithic era in Ireland. Further, these pre-farming people had a good idea of creating temperatures hot enough to burn bones, not as easy as it sounds.