How “Roman” were Roman cremations in Belgium?

In our last paper “The Roman way” (Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports), we explored how Gallo-Roman cremations were performed by analysing 332 cremated bone fragments from five cemeteries in Belgium. Using a multi-proxy, multi-sampling approach, combining FTIR-ATR and carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope analyses, we reconstructed burning conditions beyond what’s visible macroscopically.

The big picture: Overall, the results point to broadly shared cremation practices across most sites, with comparable pyre conditions and treatment of the body. At the same time, the data also capture substantial variability, suggesting that local choices in fuel selection as well as local environmental factors could shape how cremations were performed.

One site stands out: Fouches. This Early Roman cemetery shows burning conditions more comparable to Bronze/Iron Age cremations than to the other Roman-period sites, hinting at a gradual transition rather than an instant adoption of “Roman” cremation know-how at the empire’s edges.