A new perspective on early cremation

Abstract

This paper aims to reopen the debate concerning the emergence of cremation practices. According to the conventional understanding, the cremation of the dead is rooted in cultural traditions and shaped by local conditions. However, an analysis of early cremation practices from 19 different regions across the globe reveals a correlation between these practices and volcanic activity during the Holocene epoch. Mapping these sites alongside the timelines of volcanic eruptions suggests that exposure to volcanic fire may have influenced funerary traditions. Archeological evidence from sites such as Çatalhöyük and the Chauvet Cave, which include depictions of volcanic activity, points to the potential impact of volcanoes on fire-related cults and rituals. This possibility is particularly noteworthy. The idea that cremation traditions may have been triggered by environmental stimuli necessitates the inclusion of geological and anthropological data in discussions on the origins of cremation. This study, grounded in this interdisciplinary approach, seeks to shed light on the conditions that gave rise to cremation practices.