Romans and the dark arts?: The influence of changing jurisdiction on the deposition of bodies in North Western European bogs

This bachelor dissertation has aimed to answer the main research question: Did the fusion of Germanic and Roman norms, and legislative practices have influence on the nature of, perspective on, and as a consequence deposition of mummy’s in bogs in the area of Northwestern Europe? To do so successfully and shed more light on the Germanic-Roman cultural fusion (in terms of jurisdiction) and possible sacrificial nature of bog mummies, sub-questions were included. By answering these, the legal system of Rome in the frontier zones and associated punishment was treated, the chronological and geographical dissemination of bog mummies was showcased together with their find contexts, handholds were offered to help identify possible victims of offering, and insight was provided on an increase, decrease or stable bog person deposition rate. By having answered the sub-questions, a general overview of the Iron Age and Roman Period/Roman Iron age in Northwestern Europe in relation to the subject...Show moreThis bachelor dissertation has aimed to answer the main research question: Did the fusion of Germanic and Roman norms, and legislative practices have influence on the nature of, perspective on, and as a consequence deposition of mummy’s in bogs in the area of Northwestern Europe? To do so successfully and shed more light on the Germanic-Roman cultural fusion (in terms of jurisdiction) and possible sacrificial nature of bog mummies, sub-questions were included. By answering these, the legal system of Rome in the frontier zones and associated punishment was treated, the chronological and geographical dissemination of bog mummies was showcased together with their find contexts, handholds were offered to help identify possible victims of offering, and insight was provided on an increase, decrease or stable bog person deposition rate. By having answered the sub-questions, a general overview of the Iron Age and Roman Period/Roman Iron age in Northwestern Europe in relation to the subject was presented. To gain results, this research encompassed a broad comparative analysis based on literature research. The gained data on bog mummies was compiled in a database which can be found in the supplementary materials of this dissertation, and partially in the appendix. The results of this research were mixed. The deposition of bog mummies was likely influenced by the Roman jurisdictional concept of ‘delatio’, or private denunciation, but also by other effects of which the nature or grounds could not be established in this dissertation due to missing original sources and the database only relying on bog mummies. This indicates that further research is needed, and relevant as well, as this would mean that the more neglected human bog depositions should become a larger subject of research. Including these could namely result in a more complete context of the Iron Age and Roman Period/Iron Age, and with that the motivations for (and effects) on bog deposition.Show less

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Romans and the dark arts? The influence of changing jurisdiction on the deposition of bodies in North Western European bogs