Ritual and belief
We don’t know what the indigenous population believed or did, unless it’s ‘seen through a Roman lens’
Sources of information: tombstone depictions and inscriptions and altars - see romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/
Sources of information: tombstone depictions and inscriptions and altars - see romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/
Forensic anthropology of human remains eg Spitalfields lady, now in the London Museum, or 'Ivory Bangle Lady', Museum of York
Cremation remains can be harder to make sense of but they survive better in the acidic northern soils.
On the other hand, skeletons do not fare well. So we have many excavated or randomly found cremations from Roman times, but few burials.
Maybe this was also due to preferences at the time, but it isn't clear as yet.
Cremation remains can be harder to make sense of but they survive better in the acidic northern soils.
On the other hand, skeletons do not fare well. So we have many excavated or randomly found cremations from Roman times, but few burials.
Maybe this was also due to preferences at the time, but it isn't clear as yet.