Ritualization - Hybridization - Fragmentation : The Mutability of Roman Vessels in Germania Magna AD 1–400
Author
Summary, in English
The thesis revolves around three case studies. The first one, on ritualization, investigates how vessels of Roman origin were utilized in Germanic funerary rituals. It analyses the funerary context as a field of social practice through which significance is generated and transformed, thus illuminating the structuring influences this context had on the rituals and the vessels themselves. The second case study on hybridization focusses on the combination of actual Roman vessels or vessel forms with local stylistic features, resulting in new expressions in the material culture. The objects studied are a small number of silver vessels that were produced locally and thus traditionally interpreted as imitations or forgeries of Roman vessels. Using this as a point of departure, the study deals with the question of authenticity in material culture and how external impulses are refracted and rearranged through the encounter with local structures, and then fused together with these to create new forms. The third study deals with the fragmentation of glass, more exactly, the intentional deposition of glass fragments in graves, either on the dead person (e.g., in the mouth or in the clothes), together with the grave goods, or in the grave fill. Based on this physical transformation the study explores the biography of the glass vessels, the encounter between Mediterranean rituals and indigenous traditions of ritual destruction, and the convergence of different regimens of value.
Department/s
Publishing year
2009
Language
English
Publication/Series
Acta Archaeologica Lundensia. Series in 4°
Volume
28
Full text
Document type
Dissertation
Publisher
Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University
Topic
- History and Archaeology
Keywords
- ritual destruction
- obolus
- imports
- Roman Iron Age
- Roman vessels
- Germania Magna
- transformation
- appropriation
- practice theory
- ritual practice
- princely graves
- fürstengräber
- identity construction
- silver vessels
- Germanic pottery
- hybridity
- Roman glass
- Charon's coin
- fragmentation
- enchainment
Status
Published
Supervisor
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0065-1001
- ISBN: 978-91-89578-27-2
Defence date
15 May 2009
Defence time
10:15
Defence place
Room 104, Kungshuset, Lundagård, Lund
Opponent
- Kerstin Cassel (fil dr)