High-Status Roman Burials Unearth Insights into Roman Britain
Discovery of Exceptional Graves
Archaeologists excavating a site in southwest England have uncovered an extraordinary set of 50 Roman-era burials, providing a glimpse into the progressive adoption of Roman burial practices by Iron Age Britons. The burials date to the Roman occupation of Britain, which spanned from 43 to 410 A.D.
Notable Construction and Offerings
The graves exhibit a notable level of construction, with most being lined with stone walls and closed with flat rock slabs. One grave stands out with its unique tent-like structure created by leaning rock slabs against each other, a style resembling Roman graves found in Spain and Italy.
Offerings found within the graves further indicate the influence of Roman customs. These offerings include coins, a ceramic pot, and a carved bone likely used as a knife handle. Additionally, a chicken wing was discovered inside a pot buried with an older woman, who was originally laid to rest with her head resting on a pillow.
Evidence of High Status and Nearby Roman Villa
The elaborate construction and offerings suggest that the individuals buried at the site were of high status. Archaeologist Steve Membery notes that the graves have been “built” rather than simply cut into the ground, indicating a significant level of care.
Archaeologists believe the burials are linked to a nearby Roman villa, although the villa itself has yet to be located. However, they have unearthed signs of outhouses and a barn that may be associated with it.
Cultural Transition from Iron Age to Roman Customs
The burials provide evidence of the gradual cultural transition from Iron Age traditions to the adoption of more Roman customs. Earlier tombs feature bodies laid flat in a small space, while later graves include more elaborate offerings and construction techniques.
This transition is further supported by the discovery of Iron Age roundhouses, a Bronze Age barrow, and a Roman building on the site. Archaeologists have been able to examine generations of a community whose existence spanned over 500 years, capturing the cultural evolution that occurred during the Roman occupation.
Roman Invasion and Occupation
The Roman Period in Britain began after Julius Caesar’s first attempt to conquer the British Isles. The invasion, driven by a desire for political power, saw the Roman army landing in southeast England and pushing north and westward.
In the southwest, the Romans faced fierce resistance from tribes based out of Iron Age hill forts. However, they eventually emerged victorious, although intermittent rebellion continued in northern regions like Scotland.
Southern Britain was the only area where the landscape began to take on a distinctly Mediterranean character, with towns being built by local gentry who transformed themselves into Romanised gentlemen within a generation or two.
Archaeological Significance
The discovery of these high-status Roman burials provides valuable insights into the lives and customs of Iron Age Britons during the Roman occupation. The burials showcase the progressive adoption of Roman practices, the construction of elaborate graves, and the presence of a nearby Roman villa.
The site also offers a glimpse into the cultural transition that occurred during this period, as well as the broader context of the Roman invasion and occupation of Britain.