What became of the dead?

In Ireland there is some evidence of cremation dating from around 9000 years ago, around the time it became cut off from Britain. On the Scottish island of Oronsay in the Inner Hebrides, human bones dating from around 5000 years ago have been found in shell middens, or food rubbish dumps. These bones show signs of exposure, suggesting they were tossed aside rather than ritually disposed of.  read more in the New Scientist