Römischer Import in mitteldeutschen Brandgräbern vor und nach den Markomannenkriegen – ein Indiz für Reichtum im Grabinventar?

Abstract

The structure and quality of graves from Central Germany dating from approximately the same period as the Kariv burial are examined in comparison with the Kariv find. Special attention is given to cremation graves where evidence of imported Roman vessels and precious metals can be found. On the basis of a number of examples, the paper demonstrates that the combined evidence of samian ware and/or bronze and glass vessels and precious metals can be meaningful even if only small remnants of the objects have survived in the cremation grave. Burial inventories from the end of the 2nd century show indications of a transition over time from samian ware  plates to samian ware bowls.
Qualified comparisons can be made with the inventories of inhumation graves. It can be shown that in Central Germany the graves of the Roman Imperial period were consistently provided with rich inventories, regardless of the type of burial. However, the visibility of the wealth is limited in the case of cremation graves. It is only possible to determine whether a grave should be considered “rich” by  comparing it with other graves in the region, as “wealth” was comparative, both regionally and chronologically.