The mortuary treatment of children at Late Roman/Early Byzantine (L)Ibida (4th – 6th Centuries AD)

Abstract

This study evaluates the treatment of children in death through an examination of the available archaeological evidence related to mortuary practices from Late Roman and Early Byzantine (L) Ibida (Slava Rusă, Tulcea County, Romania). Certain components such as burial location, grave type, orientation, body position, and grave goods were analyzed based on a sample of 41 non‑adult individual burials. A differential approach that involved making a comparison and highlighting the similarities and differences between non‑adult and adult burials was used. The instances where adults and non‑adults were buried together in the same grave were also discussed. Although differences were apparent in certain instances, it was found that children were not necessarily buried differently than adults. The limits of the study determined by the current state of research and by sample sizes are highlighted. Additionally, it is acknowledged that caution should be exercised as material remains and their interpretation only reveal a part of the entire story related to any mortuary behavior.