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COAL AND CREMATION AT THE TSCHUDI BURN, CHAN CHAN, NORTHERN PERU*
Author(s) -
BROOKS W. E.,
GALVEZ MORA C.,
JACKSON J. C.,
McGEEHIN J. P.,
HOOD D. G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2007.00358.x
Subject(s) - archaeology , mineralogy , petrography , calcination , chemistry , geology , metallurgy , nuclear chemistry , materials science , geography , biochemistry , catalysis
Analyses of a 20–30 cm thick, completely combusted ash at the 25 × 70 m Tschudi burn at Chan Chan, northern Perú, contain 52–55 wt% SiO 2 , 180–210 ppm zirconium and are consistent with coal ash. Soil geochemistry across the burn showed elevated calcium and phosphorus content, possible evidence for reported human cremation. A calcined, 5 g, 4.5 cm skull fragment recovered from the burn was confirmed as human by protein radioimmunoassay (pRIA). X‐ray diffraction showed that the bone had been heated to 520°C. The burn took place c. ad 1312–1438 based on interpretation of a 14 C date on carbonized plant tinder .
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