Roman Funerary Rituals in Mutina (Modena, Italy)

A Multidisciplinary Approach

By (author) Federica Maria Riso

Book cover: Roman Funerary Rituals in Mutina (Modena, Italy)

Extent: 112 pages

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Subjects: Classical Studies, Mediterranean Archaeology

Series: Archaeopress Roman Archaeology

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(May 2023)

ISBN: 9781803274799

6.85 x 9.65 inches

Price: $42.00

In stock

This study presents the results of a research project undertaken in collaboration with the University of Huddersfield. The project sought to identify and reconstruct the funerary space and rituals of the necropolis in Mutina (now Modena) in the period between the first century BC and second century AD.


Roman Funerary Rituals in Mutina (Modena, Italy) presents the results of a research project undertaken in collaboration with the University of Huddersfield. The project sought to identify and reconstruct the funerary space and rituals of the necropolis in Mutina (now Modena) in the period between the first century BC and second century AD. The research is a key example of integrated analyses, linking the different results in the same interpretative system and supporting traditional strategies (archaeology and archaeobotany) with advanced technology (SAXS, CT-scan). The archaeobotanical remains (seeds and fruit) and the objects involved in the ceremonies constitute an important investigatory lens to reconstruct the mortuary rituals and attendance at the funerary space.

Contents List of Figures and Tables Introduction Project Religious thought Rituals Plants Gardens The Roman funerary ritual Cremation and burial Epigraphic, literary, and iconographic evidence Literary sources Epigraphic sources Iconographic evidence Mutina: The city and the Necropolis North of the Via Emilia South of the Via Emilia The Necropolises Site A - Novisad Site B - Ferrari Site C - Via Cesana Site D - Via Pica Site F - Fer-Mo-Sa Site G - Marzaglia Corpus Domini Site I - Spilamberto Material and methods The Mutina necropolis Necropolis of the ager mutinensis Archaeobotanical analysis Seeds/fruits Charcoals Results Archaeological remains Cooking and table ware Oil lamps Nails Decorated bones Archaeozoological remains Coins Archaeobotanical remains Charcoals CT-scan and Saxs analysis SAXS Results Discussion CT-scan discussion Conclusion Tombs analysed by funerary ritual aspects Site A Site B Site G Conclusion Bibliography, Contents List of Figures and Tables Introduction Project ;
Religious thought ;
Rituals ;
Plants ;
Gardens ;
The Roman funerary ritual Cremation and burial ;
Epigraphic, literary, and iconographic evidence ;
Literary sources ;
Epigraphic sources ;
Iconographic evidence ;
Mutina: The city and the Necropolis North of the Via Emilia ;
South of the Via Emilia ;
The Necropolises ;
Site A – Novisad ;
Site B – Ferrari ;
Site C – Via Cesana ;
Site D – Via Pica ;
Site F – Fer-Mo-Sa ;
Site G – Marzaglia Corpus Domini Site I – Spilamberto ;
Material and methods The Mutina necropolis ;
Necropolis of the ager mutinensis Archaeobotanical analysis ;
Seeds/fruits ;
Charcoals ;
Results Archaeological remains ;
Cooking and table ware ;
Oil lamps ;
Nails ;
Decorated bones ;
Archaeozoological remains ;
Coins ;
Archaeobotanical remains ;
Charcoals ;
CT-scan and Saxs analysis SAXS Results ;
Discussion ;
CT-scan discussion ;
Conclusion ;
Tombs analysed by funerary ritual aspects Site A ;
Site B ;
Site G ;
Conclusion Bibliography

  • By (author) Federica Maria Riso

'In sum, this slim and efficient volume—103 pages including bibliography—will be of great interest to anyone interested in Roman funerary archaeology, the cultural importance of plants in the Roman world, or more generally how the Romans confronted and understood the loss of loved ones. The inclusion of such detailed tables of evidence also makes the volume valuable for researchers for comparison with other sites, both in northern Italy and across the Roman empire.' – Carolynn Roncaglia (2024): Bryn Mawr Classical Review