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Drinking and the creation of death : New perspectives on Roman vessels in Scandinavian death rituals

Ekengren, Fredrik LU orcid (2005) In Lund Archaeological Review 10. p.45-61
Abstract
This paper is a critical analysis of the function and me aning of Roman drinking vesseis found in Scandinavian burials from the Roman Iron Age. A proposal for the shift in theoretical perspectives is made, emphasizing the need for theories that acknowledge the transformation of material culture. A review of perspectives informed by practice theory as well as ritual theory is given, and their consequences for our understanding of burials and their grave goods (including Roman drinking vessels) are discussed. A case study of three female inhumation burials containing Roman vessels found in Skovgårde on Zealand (Denmark) is then analysed with these perspectives as a point of departure. The paper concludes that the Roman drinking vessels from... (More)
This paper is a critical analysis of the function and me aning of Roman drinking vesseis found in Scandinavian burials from the Roman Iron Age. A proposal for the shift in theoretical perspectives is made, emphasizing the need for theories that acknowledge the transformation of material culture. A review of perspectives informed by practice theory as well as ritual theory is given, and their consequences for our understanding of burials and their grave goods (including Roman drinking vessels) are discussed. A case study of three female inhumation burials containing Roman vessels found in Skovgårde on Zealand (Denmark) is then analysed with these perspectives as a point of departure. The paper concludes that the Roman drinking vessels from Skovgårde were intentionally used in funerary contexts, together with other objects, to create a representation of the deceased persons transformation of identity into one appropriate in death. Thus, the usually reproduced interpretation, where the imported vessels are seen as markers of social hierarchy and signs of Roman ideology among the Germanic elite, must be revised. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Archaeological theory, Roman imports, Germanic burial customs, Roman vessels, Skovgårde, Ritual practices, Grave goods, Burials, Mortuary practices, Funerary archaeology
in
Lund Archaeological Review
volume
10
pages
45 - 61
publisher
Institute of Archaeology, University of Lund
ISSN
1401-2189
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6b4711e8-c946-44f9-ab02-80d04c3f97e4 (old id 161535)
alternative location
https://journals.lub.lu.se/lar/article/view/21755
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:48:43
date last changed
2025-12-30 20:34:38
@article{6b4711e8-c946-44f9-ab02-80d04c3f97e4,
  abstract     = {{This paper is a critical analysis of the function and me aning of Roman drinking vesseis found in Scandinavian burials from the Roman Iron Age. A proposal for the shift in theoretical perspectives is made, emphasizing the need for theories that acknowledge the transformation of material culture. A review of perspectives informed by practice theory as well as ritual theory is given, and their consequences for our understanding of burials and their grave goods (including Roman drinking vessels) are discussed. A case study of three female inhumation burials containing Roman vessels found in Skovgårde on Zealand (Denmark) is then analysed with these perspectives as a point of departure. The paper concludes that the Roman drinking vessels from Skovgårde were intentionally used in funerary contexts, together with other objects, to create a representation of the deceased persons transformation of identity into one appropriate in death. Thus, the usually reproduced interpretation, where the imported vessels are seen as markers of social hierarchy and signs of Roman ideology among the Germanic elite, must be revised.}},
  author       = {{Ekengren, Fredrik}},
  issn         = {{1401-2189}},
  keywords     = {{Archaeological theory; Roman imports; Germanic burial customs; Roman vessels; Skovgårde; Ritual practices; Grave goods; Burials; Mortuary practices; Funerary archaeology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{45--61}},
  publisher    = {{Institute of Archaeology, University of Lund}},
  series       = {{Lund Archaeological Review}},
  title        = {{Drinking and the creation of death : New perspectives on Roman vessels in Scandinavian death rituals}},
  url          = {{https://journals.lub.lu.se/lar/article/view/21755}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}