If it weren't for the location of Aquincum I'd say that practice sounds very
"Iron Age" or "Celtic". Perhaps it's a remnant of local Pannonian customs,
or Hunnish depending on how late in the Empire the city lived. Good luck
figuring it out, it sounds very interesting!
~Allison
----- Original Message -----
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To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 3:29 AM
Subject: [ZOOARCH] animal skulls in late Roman burials
> Dear colleagues,
> IK am wondering whether anyone can point me in the direction of
> publications reporting on placement of animal skulls in late Roman
> inhumation burials. Here at Aquincum we have been excavating in a
> cemetery used over 400 years with over 800 graves. In one grave, a one
> legged man is accompanied by the cranium of a dog. In another, even more
> exotic grave a skeleton n a coffin wasburied. sometime later, a horse
> cranium
> pointing towards the feet was placed above the legsof the deceased with
> five
> human crania arranged arround it. These are clearly non-Roman elements and
> I wonder if anyone has encountered something similar or knows of useful
> publications on this subject. Any suggests would be most welcome.
>
> Alice
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