Animals in funerary practices during the early and late Roman periods in southern Belgium

The aim of the present paper is to give an overview of the use of animals in the funerary practices that occurred in the early and late Roman periods in southern Belgium. The study area is located in the Roman civitates of the Treviri, Nervii and Menapii, which are part of the province of Gallia Belgica, and in the civitas Tungrorum in Germania inferior. Cemeteries associated with rural, urban and military populations are considered in this research. The review shows that most of the faunal remains discovered in a funerary context can be linked to food rituals. Through the different kinds of faunal deposits, it is possible to document several aspects of the rituals. Patterns can be highlighted regarding the choice of animal species, age of animals sacrificed and pieces of meat for the offerings. Although the study identifies common trends in food rituals of the different cemeteries, variations are recorded among animals playing a secondary role. Evolution over time and diversity of funerary practices in relation to the type of occupation and social status of individuals are also discussed.