Determining the earliest directly dated cremation tombs in Neolithic China via multidisciplinary approaches: A case study at Laohudun site

The practice of cremation has been commonly documented in Chinese archaeological reports, although related scientific evidence and specific analysis are uncommon. In this study, 10 possibly burned human bone fragments recovered from the Laohudun archaeological site in Jing'an County, Jiangxi Province, were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to provide solid evidence for determining the nature of the ancient bones, with one modern unheated pig bone as a control sample. The level of heating was estimated using calculated indicators of SF, C/P, index of (961 + 1022 + 1061), and SEM morphological alterations. Nine of the Neolithic bone samples had experienced high temperatures, whereas the Han Dynasty sample is unheated. One of the burned bones was directly dated to 4800–4400 BP via radiocarbon AMS. The thermal history of the bone remains at Laohudun is clarified in this study, supporting the interpretation the Neolithic tombs are cremated. This study not only chronicles the use of cremation tombs in China back to the Neolithic period but also establishes a scientific foundation for future research into related funeral customs.