Publication details

The Roman way: Investigating the cremation conditions during the Roman period in Belgium using a multi-proxy and multi-sampling approach

Authors	STAMATAKI Elisavet SALESSE Kévin Alexis André CAPUZZO Giacomo KONTOPOULOS Ioannis HLAD Marta DALLE Sarah SABAUX Charlotte VESELKA Barbara ANNAERT Rica BOUDIN Mathieu CLAEYS Philippe SENGELOV Amanda VERCAUTEREN Martine WARMENBOL Eugene CLAES Britt DESTEXHE Guy CATTELAIN Laureline WILLEMS Sonja GUY De Mulder SNOECK Christophe
Year of publication	2025
Type	Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source	Journal of Archaeological Science : Reports
MU Faculty or unit	Faculty of Science
Citation
web	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X25001890
Doi	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105156
Keywords	Gallo-Roman cremations; Cremated bones; Burning conditions; FTIR-ATR; Carbon & Oxygen isotope analysis
Description	This study assesses cremation conditions in the Roman period using a multi-proxy analysis (FTIR-ATR and carbon and oxygen isotope analysis) on 332 burned bones from five Belgian Gallo-Roman cemeteries. The results suggest similar pyre structure, size, temperature, and body positioning across Gallo-Roman cremations. However, high variability in ?13C and ?18O values indicates differences in fuel selection and environmental factors. The wide ?13C range likely reflects the use of multiple wood types (e.g., Quercus sp./oak, F. sylvatica/beech) and different tree parts (e.g., trunk, branch, stump) in pyre construction. In contrast, ?18O variation may relate to quenching methods and/or seasonal and weather conditions during combustion. Differences were also observed in cremation conditions between the Metal Ages and the Gallo-Roman cremations from Belgium, with Roman cremations presenting better oxygen availability during combustion. Finally, the Gallo-Roman cemetery of Fouches is particularly interesting, as it dates to the Early Roman period and presents similarities in ventilation conditions with the cemeteries from the Metal Ages instead of the other Gallo-Roman cemeteries. The evidence from Fouches suggests a gradual transition from the Metal Ages to Roman cremation practices. The dating of Fouches to the Early Roman period could potentially explain that Roman cremation expertise was not immediately widespread but rather transferred gradually to the edges of the Roman Empire.