Contextualising deviancy : a regional approach to decapitated inhumation in late Roman Britain
The focus of the thesis is the poorly-understood rite of decapitated inhumation which was practiced predominantly in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD in Britain. Previous studies have often involved the accumulation of data on decapitated inhumations themselves and cross analysis of examples. Conclusions drawn on the meaning of the rite almost invariably place it in opposition to 'normal' Late Romano-British funerary behaviour and consequently interpret decapitation as reflecting negatively on the social identity of the deceased. Because of this, decapitated inhumations are commonly referred to as 'deviant burials' in academic literature. This thesis argues that the interpretation of decapitated burial as 'deviant' is an artificial product of the methodologies employed in its analysis. The lack of contextualisation within the mortuary structures of late Roman Britain has entrenched the view that decapitated burial stood in contrast to 'normal', 'acceptable' funerary behaviour. By using quantitative and qualitative analysis of funerary behaviour within three regional case studies, this thesis adopts a contextualising approach to decapitated burials in order to place these individuals in relation to the social parameters
Crerar, Belinda Joan
burial ; funeral rites ; human remains ; Roman ; Great Britain ; Roman Britain
Contextualising deviancy : a regional approach to decapitated inhumation in late Roman Britain. The focus of the thesis is the poorly-understood rite of decapitated inhumation which was practiced predominantly in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD in Britain. Previous studies have often involved the accumulation of data on decapitated inhumations themselves and cross analysis of examples. Conclusions drawn on the meaning of the rite almost invariably place it in opposition to 'normal' Late Romano-British funerary behaviour and consequently interpret decapitation as reflecting negatively on the social identity of the deceased. Because of this, decapitated inhumations are commonly referred to as 'deviant burials' in academic literature. This thesis argues that the interpretation of decapitated burial as 'deviant' is an artificial product of the methodologies employed in its analysis. The lack of contextualisation within the mortuary structures of late Roman Britain has entrenched the view that decapitated burial stood in contrast to 'normal', 'acceptable' funerary behaviour. By using quantitative and qualitative analysis of funerary behaviour within three regional case studies, this thesis adopts a contextualising approach to decapitated burials in order to place these individuals in relation to the social parameters
contextualising regional inhumation late_roman britain focus poorly_understood rite inhumation practice predominantly britain previous_study often involved accumulation data inhumation cross analysis example conclusions draw mean rite almost invariably place opposition normal late romano_british funerary_behaviour consequently interpret reflect negatively social_identity decease inhumation commonly_refer deviant burial academic literature argues interpretation burial deviant artificial product methodology_employ analysis lack contextualisation within mortuary structure late_roman britain entrench view burial stand contrast normal acceptable funerary_behaviour use_quantitative qualitative_analysis funerary_behaviour within regional_case study_adopts contextualising burial order_place individual relation social parameter