On May 24–25, the final meeting of the TEFRA Project (The Technology and the Bio-Anthropology of the Use of Fire on Human Remains in the Aegean) took place in Thessaloniki. Since its launch in 2022, the Brussels Bioarchaeology Lab has had the pleasure of closely collaborating with the Greek TEFRA team at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and we’re proud to have been part of this exciting and enriching journey from start to finish.

The meeting, hosted by Sevi Triantaphyllou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)—PI of the TEFRA Project—brought together scholars from across Europe working on cremation practices. It was a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas, share results, and reflect on how this collaborative project has advanced our understanding of fire-related funerary practices in the Aegean and beyond.

Our BB-lab researchers Ellie Stamataki, Oriana Chiappa, and Christophe Snoeck were all invited to contribute. The event was also an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends of the BB-lab, including Vaso Papathanasiou, Paula Becerra, and Yannis Chatzikonstantinou. Oriana, together with Guy de Mulder (Ghent University), presented the Belgian team’s work on cremation in the Balearic lime burials, highlighting both ongoing and past research. Ellie shared her latest experimental work, exploring how seasonality affects the cremation environment, and what happens to bone when it reaches extremely
high temperatures. Finally, Christophe gave a keynote presentation on what analytical methods can reveal about cremated remains, showcasing the power of interdisciplinary approaches in bioarchaeology.

We are grateful to have been part of this celebration and look forward to continuing the dialogue and research in the future