The definition and interpretation of late Roman burial rites in the Western Empire
This thesis defines late Roman burial practice through the rigorous analysis of burial rites from selected cemeteries throughout Western Europe within a chronological framework. Every aspect of the individual graves from these cemeteries is recorded in detail and analysed within the context of the wider whole. This enables the reconstruction of both predominant and minority burial rites within a chronological framework. The chronology uses a combination of dateable grave goods and horizontal and vertical stratigraphy to date graves to thirty year periods, starting in AD 240 and concluding in the early fifth century. Every cemetery covered is subject to this analysis, and subsequent study examines burial patterns within the wider context of the Western Empire. Major cemeteries are examined along with smaller sites in order to enable comparison of rites both locally and within the area of study (with sites ranging geographically from Britain to Hungary). The comparisons of burial practice between the sites enables an examination of regionality on these sites, with a number of different rites showing relatively strong regional traits. This comparison also identifies a number of cases where minority individual
Cooke, Nicholas
Archaeology
The definition and interpretation of late Roman burial rites in the Western Empire. This thesis defines late Roman burial practice through the rigorous analysis of burial rites from selected cemeteries throughout Western Europe within a chronological framework. Every aspect of the individual graves from these cemeteries is recorded in detail and analysed within the context of the wider whole. This enables the reconstruction of both predominant and minority burial rites within a chronological framework. The chronology uses a combination of dateable grave goods and horizontal and vertical stratigraphy to date graves to thirty year periods, starting in AD 240 and concluding in the early fifth century. Every cemetery covered is subject to this analysis, and subsequent study examines burial patterns within the wider context of the Western Empire. Major cemeteries are examined along with smaller sites in order to enable comparison of rites both locally and within the area of study (with sites ranging geographically from Britain to Hungary). The comparisons of burial practice between the sites enables an examination of regionality on these sites, with a number of different rites showing relatively strong regional traits. This comparison also identifies a number of cases where minority individual
definition interpretation late_roman burial_rite western_empire defines late_roman burial_practice rigorous analysis burial_rite select cemetery throughout western_europe within_chronological framework every_aspect individual graf cemetery record detail analyse within_context wider whole enables reconstruction predominant minority burial_rite within_chronological framework chronology use_combination dateable grave_good horizontal vertical stratigraphy date graf period start conclude every cemetery cover subject analysis subsequent study_examines burial pattern within_wider context western_empire major cemetery examine along small site order enable comparison rite locally within_area study sit range geographically britain hungary comparison burial_practice site enable examination regionality sit number_different rite show relatively strong regional trait comparison also_identify number case minority individual