Hello! I figured there must be studies using metallographic analysis
to distinguish iron artefacts that have gone through the funeral pyre
before deposition from objects that haven't.
Have these studies been successful?
Is the distinction possible with heavily corroded artefacts?
The burial site in question lies on the edge of a swamp and there are
iron artefacts with minimum corrosion (supposedly cremated) and
objects that are very heavily corroded (supposedly not cremated). The
artefacts are spearheads, axes, knives, seaxes etc. from AD 10.-12.
cc. Estonia.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Best wishes,
Ragnar Saage
University of Tartu
Estonia
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