CREMATION IN SOUTHWESTERN NORTH-AMERICA - ASPECTS OF TAPHONOMY THAT AFFECT PATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

The taphonomy of cremation has a great impact on the variety of bioarc haeological information that can be retrieved in the analysis of crema ted bone. Aspects of the incineration process such as shrinkage, warpa ge and fragmentation obscure pathological evidence. Poor gleaning prac tices and mode of interment also limit data recovery. Despite these fa ctors, a comparative analysis of pathology exhibited in inhumations an d cremation deposits shows that certain classes of pathology can be re liably recovered from cremation deposits. These include pathology rela ted to degenerative disease and also the lesions of porotic hyperostos is. However, evidence of dental disease and lesions of cribra orbitali a are largely destroyed by the cremation process. The results of the a nalysis show that pathology data can be retrieved from cremations. How ever, a review of cremation practice in the Southwest shows that alter nate forms of cremation can affect the recovery of pathological data. From this comparison, one can predict whether or not cremation practic es in any given study area will limit or enhance the retrieval of path ological data.