Ein außerordentlich reiches Mädchengrab des dritten Jahrhunderts aus Rheinbach-Flerzheim

Abstract

In 1982 a roman cemetery with 26 tombs was discovered in close proximity to a roman villa rustica in Rheinbach-Flerzheim, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, North Rhine Westfalia, Germany. It can be dated from the end of the 2nd to the years around 270 C.E. One of the tombs, the burial of a 14 -16-years old young girl dating to the first decades of the 3rd century was extraordinarily rich equipped with outstanding grave goods. She was buried with a vast quantity (more than 16 in total) of high quality glass vessels and glass objects giving a broad overview over 2 nd and 3 rd century “Rhenish” glass. Among the glass objects there are unusual pieces such as a knife with a handle made from blue glass probably in lampwork technique and an elaborately decorated glass oil lamp. Among her “general” grave goods were a roman gold hairnet, a type imported from the Mediterranean and very rare in the northern provinces of the Roman Empire, a so called “wedding ring” or engagement ring with a high quality miniature cameo showing a “dextrarum iunctio” scene, an ivory spinning rod, an amber sculpture depicting a small dog, jewelry and a stylus with gold inlays. The tomb is one of the most lavishly equipped Roman 3rd century burials in the province Germania Inferior demonstrating the impressive wealth of a family of rural landowners.