Anthropological analysis of burnt osteological human remains from a Neolithic fishing site (Ras al Hamra 5, Area 43 - Sultanate of Oman)

Ras al Hamra 5 (RH5) is a Neolithic shell-midden habitation and necropolis site located near the Oman capital city Muscat, in the suburb of Qurm. The site dates to V and IV millennium BC. The necropolis, which occupies the northeastern part of the site, covers an area of about 160 square meters and was used between 3800 and 3300 BC. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the findings for the skeletal remains from a specific sector of the necropolis, Area 43. While the entire necropolis is made up of single or multiple primary depositions, this area is characterized by partially burned, highly fragmented and co-mingled skeletal material. We determined a minimal number of individuals (MNI = 77). The MNI is based on counting adult mandibles and sub-adult long bones. Thirty-one individuals are sub-adults (aged 0 to 18) while 46 individuals are adults over the age of 19. Of the adults, 20 are male, 19 are females, seven individuals could not be identified. The burn condition of the skeletal elements suggest two different combustion levels that caused the fire damage to the bones. It appears that some bones are burned when the remains were fully skeletonized. While, some of the skeletal elements show burn patterns that suggest they were burned with flesh on them. Several lines of research assessment are being looked into. For example, despite the fragmentary and burnt condition of the remains, some skeletal lesions have been identified suggesting that these individuals suffered chronic DJD and infectious problems. We are also looking into the physical nature of the burning to see if we can histologically separate out lightly burnt bone from cremated bone fragments, in an attempt to see if we can determine which elements were or were not burned with flesh attached to them.