A late Roman infant cemetery in the Villa Poggio Gramignano near Lugnano-in-Teverina, Italy

Abstract

The Villa Poggio Gramignano is a Roman villa site located in southwestern Umbria. This thesis represents the preliminary findings of three seasons of excavation work, 1989-1991, by the University of Arizona, in the area of the villa occupied by the infant cemetery. In effect, it is a discussion of late Roman burial rite in a specific context. This preliminary report on the excavations provides a detailed description of each of the forty seven burials as well as an analysis of these burials and the finds associated with them. Possible factors contributing to its exclusive nature are also explored, as are other examples of infant cemeteries in the Roman world. Lastly, the discussion turns to the possible causes for the numerous infant burials in the Poggio Gramignano cemetery. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)