Religion and Acculturation in the Danubian Provinces 2nd International Conference on the Roman Danubian Provinces Archaeological Institute Belgrade, Serbia Milica Tapavički – Ilić Nemanja Mrđić

1. Archaeological Institute
Belgrade, Serbia
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA
Ferrara – Italy, November 20th to 22nd, 2013
Religion and Acculturation in the Danubian Provinces
2nd International Conference on the Roman Danubian Provinces

3. • 6.000 graves with cremations excavated
• Less than 4 % burials in urns
• Etage graves absolutely dominating
• More than 2/3 belong to two etage graves
• 2 ustrinae so far discovered (one south of the
city and the other east of the legionary fort)

5. Viminacium – Aerial View

6. Viminacium – Coal Mine

14. Why 2-3 ritual events when you can have all in one?
Result is the same!
Higher price – more wood!
People and families gather always at the same spot!
Actual burial in the grave can be a private ritual with closest
family only!

15. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

16. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

17. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

18. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

19. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

20. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

21. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

22. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

23. Etage grave – Experiment
Preparation of a burial pit

24. NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED DURING
THIS EXPERIMENT !

25. Etage grave – Experiment with cremation (Bustum tupe)

26. Air temperature 13-15o Celsius
Wood temperature 10-12 o Celsius
5 m3 of wood prepared
1,85 m3 of wood used
Temperature reached 1000o
Average temperature 800-900o
Time needed 2 / 4 hours

27. Etage grave – Experiment with cremation (Bustum tupe)

28. 0 hours - 0 minutes

29. 0 hours - 20 minutes

30. 0 hours - 30 minutes

31. 0 hours - 40 minutes

32. 1 hours - 00 minutes

33. 1 hours - 30 minutes

34. 1 hours - 30 minutes

35. 1 hours - 40 minutes

36. 2 hours - 00 minutes

37. 2 hours - 30 minutes

38. 3 hours - 20 minutes

39. 4 hours - 00 minutes

41. 20 hours - 00 minutes

42. 20 hours - 00 minutes

43. 20 hours - 00 minutes

44. 20 hours - 00 minutes

45. 20 hours - 00 minutes

48. 20 hours - 00 minutes

49. Cleaning of the grave
after cremation
10-15 minutes!!!!