Roman Gypsum burials point to cherishing infants

[guy]

 

There was a previous post about the rare Roman practice of gypsum burial (see below). Above is a 3D picture of a gypsum burial of two adults and an infant.

Maureen Carroll, a researcher in York, has studied approximately 70 gypsum burials. At least seven belonged to children, including three infants under 4 months old, two in middle to late childhood, and two adolescents.

The gypsum burial occurred in 3rd and 4th century AD in Roman York. It involved placing the body in a container of stone or lead as well as clothing and wrapping the body. The body was then covered with gypsum before burial.

Because of the expense and effort involved with gypsum burials, bodies of infants were usually placed in far less expensive amphorae or parts of amphorae, ceramic tile boxes, or wooden boxes. 

This finding points to at least elite families’ treasuring their young children. 
 

https://seeingthedead.ac.uk/blog/children-among-dead-yorks-gypsum-burials

 

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/babies-werent-supposed-to-be-mourned-in-the-roman-empire-these-rare-liquid-gypsum-burials-prove-otherwise

 

 

 

Edited February 28 by guy