Cemetery study reveals how daily life changed between Iron Age and Roman period

A study by Prof. Dr. Wolf-Rüdiger Teegen, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeologyprovides new insights into how average human behavior in the Treveri tribal territory changed during the transition from the Celtic Iron Age (La Tène period) to Roman times.

By focusing on the only known Celto-Roman cemetery, Wederath-Belginum, the study gained new insights into the complexity of human mortality and animal offerings.

The Wederath-Belginum cemetery was first excavated in 1954 and has since been the subject of multiple investigations leading to the discovery of over 2,500 cremation remains (cremains) and 15 burials. However, because a significant number of burials had probably been destroyed before the 1954 excavations, the cemetery would have originally housed more than 4,800 burials.

The lack of preserved bones in the 15 burials can be partly attributed to the poor preservation conditions in the region, explains Professor Teegen: “It should be noted that the preservation of bones and teeth is quite difficult in the Treverorum civitas. to the geological structure consisting of extensive areas covered with sandstone or slate, which leads to the formation of acidic soils, unfavorable for the conservation of non-cremated bones.

“This is not only true for the extensive rural areas, but also for sarcophagus burials, mostly carved from sandstone. Several late Roman sarcophagus burials from Augusta Treverorum and its surroundings are therefore poorly preserved. On the other hand, fortunately, the cremations are for the most part well preserved.

A total of 1,689 ashes were dated and studied, and they were classified as belonging to one of three periods: 364 to the La Tène period, 113 to the early Roman period, and 1,212 to the Roman period. imperial.

According to Professor Teegen, the analysis of the cremations provided the following information: “The ashes clearly document the changing living conditions in Wederath/Belginum between the mid/late La Tène period and the Roman era. The average lifespan and life expectancy of the population showed a slight increase. Gender differences in mortality, however, persisted.

On average, individuals lived longer in Roman times than in the Iron Age, with many more cases reaching the age of 60 and over.

However, in the Iron Age and Roman period, women were more likely to die younger than their male counterparts, with more than half of cremations in the Iron Age and Roman period depicting women of under 40 years old.

It was also found that only Iron Age individuals showed signs of violence, likely the result of fighting, indicating that conflicts were less common in Roman times.

While Romans were less likely to have experienced violence during their lifetime and tended to live longer, they were also more likely to struggle with conditions such as tooth loss, joint degeneration and spine, as well as sinusitis. It is not possible to say with certainty whether this increase in pathologies is directly linked to an increase in the average age of the population or whether it is due to physiological stress.

However, it was noted that changes in the spine were three times more likely to occur in men than women, possibly due to strenuous physical work. This observation shows a division of labor, with men relegated to the most physically demanding tasks, leading to certain changes in their spine.

Likewise, sinusitis may be more prevalent due to inadequate heating in winter and constant inhalation of fumes from an open fireplace, which can lead to respiratory problems. These conditions were likely more common among women and children who spent significantly more time in the kitchen than men.

Additionally, changes in status and prestige were also observed; in general, people of higher social status received more food during life and burial goods during death. With this in mind, it has been noted that Celtic artisans were taller and therefore better fed during their lives than their contemporaries. In contrast, the Romans gave greater consideration to armed men, who were generally taller and possessed larger grave goods.

Infants and neonates (babies younger than 28 days) were found to be underrepresented, with approximately 649 burials missing. This number increased to 1,000 when the destroyed tombs are taken into account. This deficit has been attributed to poor preservation, destruction of graves, and the cultural practice described by Pliny the Elder of not burying children in cemeteries, but rather in settlements.

Animal-related practices, including species diversity, butchery practices, and even breeding, have also changed.

In Roman times, a more advanced butchery technique was used, in which the spine was sawed down to the middle, while the La Tène period preferred to separate the meat from the bone by cutting where the spine and ribs met.

Similarly, cattle have been found to become larger and have more muscle mass during Roman times, likely due to changes in breeding and farming techniques.

Even the species and numbers of animals offered changed as Iron Age peoples moved into the Roman period, as Professor Teegen detailed. “In La Tène burials, the number of burials with ovicaprines (sheep/goats) and cattle has decreased over time, while the number of burials with pigs shows an increase. Since the end of the Middle Period of La Tène, we see the chicken”

The numerous remains of cattle and ovicaprines have further led to speculation that they could be the result of the Roman festival of suovetaurilia, explains Professor Teegen,

“From Roman literature and iconography, we know what is called saurovitaurilia (sic). It was a procession around the sacred borders of the colonies, in the form of a bull (festively decorated), a ram and a boar accompanied by priests.

“At the end, followed the sacrifice of these animals on an altar on Mars. Selected parts were burned and thus given to the god, while the rest was eaten by the cult community. The skins went to the sanctuary or the priesthood. In the temples of the Civitas Treverorum, cattle, ovicaprids, are almost always present (exception: Oberlöstern The consistency of these species could be an indication for the sacrifice of saurovitaurilia (sic).

Further research will likely provide a better understanding of various aspects of life and changes in human behavior during this transition period.

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