In what was once an ancient Roman city centered on trade and thermal springs in southern France, archaeologists have unearthed graves believed to provide new revelations about Roman burial rituals.
After Marseille was captured by Julius Caesar in 49 BC, the city of Olbia (50 miles southeast of the coast) experienced the Roman period between the first and third centuries AD – the newly discovered cremation tombs date to that period. It is reported life scienceMore than 160 recently discovered graves provide evidence of the cremation process and the offerings, including alcoholic beverages, offered during the cremation process.
According to France’s National Institute for Preventive Archeology (Inrap), the body was laid flat on a wooden frame above a square fire pit. as life science “The heat of the fire caused the scaffolding to collapse, bones to whiten, twist and crack. Glass objects melted, bronzes deformed, and ceramics stained by soot,” the description states.
In happy news for the deceased, evidence from the findings points to the existence of “libation pipes” into which offerings could be poured on the festival day of the deceased. According to Inrap, “One of the distinguishing features of Olbia is that most [the graves] There is a sacrificial lane around it, where liquid offerings (wine, beer, mead) are offered to honor the deceased or to ensure their protection. “
The tubes were made from modified amphora (clay vessels used to store wine, oil and other substances) and may have played a role in rituals held on the festivals of the dead around Feralia (February 21) and Lemuraria (May 9, 11 and 13).
