Excavations at a site in Northern Israel have revealed an ancient cremation pit dating back to around 9,000 years ago. Remains of a skeleton show evidence of being heated to over 500 degrees, and according to the French National Center for Scientific Research team, this is the oldest known example of intentional cremation in the Near East.
In this Neolithic era, funerary traditions were transitioning away from the removal of the cranium and burial of the body within a settlement. New cremation practices could be an indicator that rituals around death were evolving, the study authors suggest. The above image depicts the remains of an individual's shoulder blade found buried in the pyre-pit, and evidence of an injury by a flint projectile several months before death. Learn more here.