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The Roman way : investigating the cremation conditions during the Roman period in Belgium using a multi-proxy and multi-sampling approach

Elisavet Stamataki, Kevin Salesse, Giacomo Capuzzo, Ioannis Kontopoulos, Marta Hlad, Sarah Dalle, Charlotte Sabaux, Barbara Veselka, Rica Annaert, Mathieu Boudin, et al.
(2025) JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS. 64.
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Abstract
This study assesses cremation conditions in the Roman period using a multi-proxy analysis (FTIR-ATR and carbon and oxygen isotope analysis) on 332 burned bones from five Belgian Gallo-Roman cemeteries. The results suggest similar pyre structure, size, temperature, and body positioning across Gallo-Roman cremations. However, high variability in delta C-13 and delta O-18 values indicates differences in fuel selection and environmental factors. The wide delta C-13 range likely reflects the use of multiple wood types (e.g., Quercus sp./oak, F. sylvatica/beech) and different tree parts (e.g., trunk, branch, stump) in pyre construction. In contrast, delta O-18 variation may relate to quenching methods and/or seasonal and weather conditions during combustion. Differences were also observed in cremation conditions between the Metal Ages and the Gallo-Roman cremations from Belgium, with Roman cremations presenting better oxygen availability during combustion. Finally, the Gallo-Roman cemetery of Fouches is particularly interesting, as it dates to the Early Roman period and presents similarities in ventilation conditions with the cemeteries from the Metal Ages instead of the other Gallo-Roman cemeteries. The evidence from Fouches suggests a gradual transition from the Metal Ages to Roman cremation practices. The dating of Fouches to the Early Roman period could potentially explain that Roman cremation expertise was not immediately widespread but rather transferred gradually to the edges of the Roman Empire.
Keywords
Gallo-Roman cremations, Cremated bones, Burning conditions, FTIR-ATR, Carbon & Oxygen isotope analysis, OXYGEN-ISOTOPE COMPOSITION, CALCINED BONES, STRUCTURAL CARBONATE, BURNT, BIOAPATITE, APATITE, ORIGIN, WOOD, CRYSTALLINITY, IMPACT

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MLA
Stamataki, Elisavet, et al. “The Roman Way : Investigating the Cremation Conditions during the Roman Period in Belgium Using a Multi-Proxy and Multi-Sampling Approach.” JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS, vol. 64, 2025, doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105156.
APA
Stamataki, E., Salesse, K., Capuzzo, G., Kontopoulos, I., Hlad, M., Dalle, S., … Snoeck, C. (2025). The Roman way : investigating the cremation conditions during the Roman period in Belgium using a multi-proxy and multi-sampling approach. JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS, 64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105156
Chicago author-date
Stamataki, Elisavet, Kevin Salesse, Giacomo Capuzzo, Ioannis Kontopoulos, Marta Hlad, Sarah Dalle, Charlotte Sabaux, et al. 2025. “The Roman Way : Investigating the Cremation Conditions during the Roman Period in Belgium Using a Multi-Proxy and Multi-Sampling Approach.” JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS 64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105156.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Stamataki, Elisavet, Kevin Salesse, Giacomo Capuzzo, Ioannis Kontopoulos, Marta Hlad, Sarah Dalle, Charlotte Sabaux, Barbara Veselka, Rica Annaert, Mathieu Boudin, Philippe Claeys, Amanda Sengelov, Martine Vercauteren, Eugène Warmenbol, Britt Claes, Guy Destexhe, Laureline Cattelain, Sonja Willems, Guy De Mulder, and Christophe Snoeck. 2025. “The Roman Way : Investigating the Cremation Conditions during the Roman Period in Belgium Using a Multi-Proxy and Multi-Sampling Approach.” JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS 64. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105156.
Vancouver
1.
Stamataki E, Salesse K, Capuzzo G, Kontopoulos I, Hlad M, Dalle S, et al. The Roman way : investigating the cremation conditions during the Roman period in Belgium using a multi-proxy and multi-sampling approach. JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS. 2025;64.
IEEE
[1]
E. Stamataki et al., “The Roman way : investigating the cremation conditions during the Roman period in Belgium using a multi-proxy and multi-sampling approach,” JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS, vol. 64, 2025.
@article{01JXB46Z8DNFGCYMKBQC9WVZER,
  abstract     = {{This study assesses cremation conditions in the Roman period using a multi-proxy analysis (FTIR-ATR and carbon and oxygen isotope analysis) on 332 burned bones from five Belgian Gallo-Roman cemeteries. The results suggest similar pyre structure, size, temperature, and body positioning across Gallo-Roman cremations. However, high variability in delta C-13 and delta O-18 values indicates differences in fuel selection and environmental factors. The wide delta C-13 range likely reflects the use of multiple wood types (e.g., Quercus sp./oak, F. sylvatica/beech) and different tree parts (e.g., trunk, branch, stump) in pyre construction. In contrast, delta O-18 variation may relate to quenching methods and/or seasonal and weather conditions during combustion. Differences were also observed in cremation conditions between the Metal Ages and the Gallo-Roman cremations from Belgium, with Roman cremations presenting better oxygen availability during combustion. Finally, the Gallo-Roman cemetery of Fouches is particularly interesting, as it dates to the Early Roman period and presents similarities in ventilation conditions with the cemeteries from the Metal Ages instead of the other Gallo-Roman cemeteries. The evidence from Fouches suggests a gradual transition from the Metal Ages to Roman cremation practices. The dating of Fouches to the Early Roman period could potentially explain that Roman cremation expertise was not immediately widespread but rather transferred gradually to the edges of the Roman Empire.}},
  articleno    = {{105156}},
  author       = {{Stamataki, Elisavet and Salesse, Kevin and Capuzzo, Giacomo and Kontopoulos, Ioannis and Hlad, Marta and Dalle, Sarah and Sabaux, Charlotte and Veselka, Barbara and Annaert, Rica and Boudin, Mathieu and Claeys, Philippe and Sengelov, Amanda and Vercauteren, Martine and Warmenbol, Eugène and Claes, Britt and Destexhe, Guy and Cattelain, Laureline and Willems, Sonja and De Mulder, Guy and Snoeck, Christophe}},
  issn         = {{2352-409X}},
  journal      = {{JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS}},
  keywords     = {{Gallo-Roman cremations,Cremated bones,Burning conditions,FTIR-ATR,Carbon & Oxygen isotope analysis,OXYGEN-ISOTOPE COMPOSITION,CALCINED BONES,STRUCTURAL CARBONATE,BURNT,BIOAPATITE,APATITE,ORIGIN,WOOD,CRYSTALLINITY,IMPACT}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{16}},
  title        = {{The Roman way : investigating the cremation conditions during the Roman period in Belgium using a multi-proxy and multi-sampling approach}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105156}},
  volume       = {{64}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}
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