Multiproxy approach for the analysis of the Roman funerary ritual in Mutina (N Italy)

The research focused on the foodstuffs, the offers that were widespread during the Roman funerary rituals (Toynbee 1971). An interdisciplinary method involving different disciplines of archeology was carried out on the necropolis of Mutina and the ager Mutinense, analysing hundreds graves, especially cremation type. These remains of meals left on the graves (animals bones, seeds and fruit) and of the objects involved in the ceremonies, are evidences resulting from the attendance of the funeral space and their identification necessarily requires a strategy for their systematic collection, during the excavation phase and a focused analysis, in order to reconstruct the activities carried out around the death, which characterize three important moments: funeral, implementation of the tomb and visit to the dead (Ortalli 2011). ... The multidisciplinary approach was essential to have a complete view of the funerary rituals. Recurring behaviors have been noticed maybe for custom, social rule or emulation, such as the redundancy of fava bean, figs and dates above all, or of balsamari and table wares; although some differences in territorial settings or in the same necropolis have been found. The choice of both food offerings and objects are linked to a funerary symbology. The criteria that determined the collection of wood are very difficult to establish; it could be assumed that it is likely that both functional and cultural factors influenced the choices of wood for cremation rites.