Title: |
Waterdale 5436: Botanical Analysis of Cremation Deposits |
Series: |
York Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
yorkarch1-213618_1.pdf (238 kB)
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yorkarch1-213618_2.pdf (839 kB)
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Excavations at the area of the New Performance Venue (NPV) identified an early Roman (1st-2nd century AD) cremation cemetery with residual evidence of later Roman (3rd-4thcentury) funerary deposits was also discovered. The carbonised botanical assemblage was particularly significant in some samples and included charcoal undoubtedly relating to pyre fuel but also a variety of votive food offerings to the dead. Expensive and in some circumstances extremely rare (within the Roman UK record) food plants are well represented, with fragments or entire fruits of fig, grape and date found. Other imported and valuable foods included walnut, stone pine and lentils, whilst hazelnut and cereals were also recorded. The number and variety of exotic food types of Mediterranean and Eastern provenance present are strongly indicative of a sophisticated consumer community with strong affiliation to Rome and the military garrison. Some individuals especially are considered to have had significant wealth and status. This assemblage is of particular note as it bears strong resemblance to Roman cremation cemeteries in France, Belgium and Italy, emphasising the maintenance and expression of Roman cultural identity by the military community based in Britain |
Author: |
J Hiller
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Publisher: |
York Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
South Yorkshire Archaeology Service (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2012
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Locations: |
Site: |
Waterdale, Doncaster |
County: |
South Yorkshire |
District: |
Doncaster |
Parish: |
DONCASTER |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 457667, 402944 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
yorkarch1-213618 |
OBIB: |
5436 |
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |