This report tracks the weight of Two Sixteen’s body before during and after cremation. The mineral component after cremation (the ‘cremains’) has been shown to represent only 5.7 per cent of initial bodyweight for an adult human (McKinley 1994). Our final weight was roughly 3%, likely doing to incomplete retrieval as a result of having to move to a second location during the firing.
| Time | Weight (g) | Percent bodyweight | Notes |
| 2pm | 36,287.39 | 100% | Assumed initial weight based on stock yard estimate of 80 pounds |
| 5pm | 7988 | 22% | Weight of body after removal from main pyre in Art Yard. Subtract time when fire lit for elapsed burn |
| 9am | 1124 | 3.1% | Final weight of cremains the next day after additional fuel added in backyard fire pit at 7:10, 8:10, and 9:10pm |
The cremation ideally would have been continued in one location until complete, with additions of fuel to achieve desired complete cremation. That was not possible due to 1) lack of additional fuel, and 2) the need to clean up and leave the location by 5pm.
The fire was pulled apart to cool down, the ashes scooped into a firepit and the partially cremated remains placed on top.
Later that evening, a fire was rekindled in the firepit with additional fuel added three times over the course of 2 hours. After that, the fire was left to burn down overnight on its own.
The results were much more fully cremated than after the primary fire. The firepit was returned to campus where the visible cremains were carefully separated from the charcoal and ash.
The final weight of retrieved remains was 1124g, or 3.1% of original bodyweight (estimated). These will be held for eventual burial in the mortuary house we build in week 9.
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