Grave Structures from the Roman Necropolis at Gramada, Vidin Region
Grave Structures from the Roman Necropolis at Gramada, Vidin Region

Summary/Abstract: The necropolis is located 4,5 km to the southeast of the town of Gramada, Vidin Region. It was studied in part during rescue archaeological excavations in 2019. The necropolis, dated within the 3rd century AD, falls within the territory of Ratiaria and belongs to the villa rustica west of it, explored during the same season.Forty-two graves at the necropolis by Gramada have been excavated. The necropolis is flat, biritual, with a 3:1 ratio of cremations to inhumations. Entombment is presented by fourteen graves, all belonging to infant, immature individuals. The graves with entombment are without grave goods or with little grave goods, most frequently consisting of a clay cup and single strings worn during the lifetime of the deceased. The inhumation grave structures are ordinary burial pits and such partly encircled with stones, as well as one in the form of a horseshoe made of stones.Cremations are presented by twenty-eight graves. In all cases, the bodies were cremated outside the burial structures where small quantities of burnt bone remains were laid for what were rather memorial reasons. It should be stressed that the graves with cremations are much richer in grave goods. The grave structures with the rite of cremation are more varied, with the graves in ordinary grave pits, such covered with stones and pits partially marked/surrounded with stones being the most numerous, followed by a structure made of roof tiles (tegulae) and horseshoe-like structures made of stones. No characteristic and repetitive feature in orientation of the graves was observed. The two rituals are not divided into distinctive zones.

• Details
• Contents