Manifestacions funeràries d'època alt imperial a Catalunya ( SEGLES I - III DC)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the roman funerary rites in Catalonia under the Empire. It is a paradox that the physical remains of the dead – funeral monuments, inscriptions, decorations of the tomb or the elements buried with it- are most likely to reveal information about the life of an individual than his/ her death. It is well known that the evidence for the disposal of the dead is one of the most common classes of archaeological data, Archaeology of Death, that has been very important in order to reconstruct prehistoric and medieval societies, but it hasn’t been so appreciated in Roman studies. Our primary concern come from written and archaeological evidence to find what mechanisms roman population practiced to honour the death. It contains studies from Barcino, of Vila de Madrid square; Tarraco, with a lot of evidences and burials documented thought Via Augusta and near city entrances; and certain examples of burial practices in rural necropolis. It has been analyzed the use of differential burial practices, the relation between the funus and the social statues, and the roman beliefs about death and afterlife. I have analyzed and tried to interpret grave goods and other peculiarities present in tombs. I have detected ritual practices such as libations, sacrifices and objects related to funerary gifts found outside the tombs. Necropolis confirms the presence of inhumatio and humatio ritual and also the funeral meal or silicernium. I have also studied the epigraphic formulary, in order to prove how funerary memorials are shown to be a means of constructing both social identity and memory. In conclusion, the study of Manifestacions funeràries d’època Alt Imperial a Catalunya, establishes a close correlation between funerary practices and social strategies of living people dealing with death during the Roman Empire.