Sinais de fogo: análise antropológica de restos ósseos cremados do Neolítico final/Calcolítico do tholos OP2b (Olival da Pega, Reguengos de Monsaraz)

From the remains recovered on the tholos OP2b excavation, located in Olival da Pega, in Reguengos de Monsaraz district, and Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic chronology, were studied 5404 segments of cremated bone, 5365 of these human. These bone pieces were studied in order to obtain anthropological information regarding paleodemography, paleopathology and taphonomy. The applied methods were based on a macroscopic observation and the use of a magnifying glass whenever necessary. 110 Filipa Cortesão Silva, Eugénia Cunha, Victor Gonçalves Among the obtained results, it is important to refer that 91.75% of the 1927 identified and documented segments were not complete and exhibited low levels of preservation. The sample includes the bone remains of 16 individuals, nine adults and seven non adults of different ages, and the sexual diagnosis identified four females and two males. Signs of degenerative, metabolic and traumatic pathology were also found. Different levels of combustion, especially bone segments burned in low temperatures of approximately 285oC, and individuals cremated in different stages of decomposition resulted from fire signals interpretation. The minimum number of individuals per type of bone indicates a primary deposition. This analysis provides a series of data that will certainly contribute to the knowledge of the profile of the individuals placed in this megalithic monument and the understanding of some aspects of the Prehistory.