Rich Roman pyre burial found in France

"A richly furnished pyre burial from the High Roman Empire period (early 2nd century) has been unearthed at Lamonzie-Saint-Martin in southwestern France. It contains unusually valuable furnishings, including coins, gold sheets and an intaglio ring with a pendant engraved with Greek lettering. The site at a ford on the Dordogne River was known to contain remains of a Neolithic settlement, but the discovery of a sole Roman grave was unexpected."

"This type of burial is known as a bustum, a cremation grave where the remains of the burned body are left in place at the pyre, as opposed to the more typical cremation burial where one pyre was used multiple times and the burned bones collected for burial elsewhere. The pyre would be built over a shallow pit that captured the bones and ash as the fire burned. Once the fire died out (or was doused), the pit would be covered with soil."

"A meticulous excavation of the fill of the pit ensued. Just six inches deep, the fill consists of ash and charcoal with cremated bone fragments and grave goods. Any find, bones and artifacts, were left in situ for photogrammetry recording so that a 3D model of the burial can be created for later analysis. The terra sigillata beaker, which may have been manufactured in the local workshops of Montans at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries, was removed in a soil clump."

A single richly furnished pyre burial dated to the early 2nd century (High Roman Empire) was uncovered at a Dordogne River ford near Lamonzie-Saint-Martin. The burial is a bustum: a cremation pyre built over a shallow pit that captured bones, ash and grave goods which were left in place. Finds include a terra sigillata beaker, a clear glass vial, a bronze coin, about ten sestertii and asses, small gold sheets, and an intaglio ring with a Greek‑lettered pendant. Excavation left finds in situ for photogrammetry and 3D recording; fragile items were removed in soil clumps for laboratory analysis and X‑rays.

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