Identity within the Roman Empire has always been a major issue in archaeological research within the Mediterranean world, since there appears to be a large regional variability in cultural identity...Show moreIdentity within the Roman Empire has always been a major issue in archaeological research within the Mediterranean world, since there appears to be a large regional variability in cultural identity. Burial practices show information on social con-structs and can contribute to the complex issue on identity within the Roman Em-pire. A comparison of the burial practices of the rural cemetery of Vallerano, near Rome – core of the Roman Empire -, and the British Iron Age and Roman cemeteries of Tolpuddle Ball, Fordington Bottom, Watling Street and Bloxham demonstrated that a distinction between two different types of cemeteries can be distinguished. These two cemetery-types consist of cemeteries where Iron Age burial practices remain in use, but also show an influence of Roman burials and cemeteries that re-semble the burial practices of the rural suburbium of Rome. Both types reflect a dif-ferent type of cultural identity, one in which the local Iron Age practices are still strongly visible mixed with Roman characteristics and one in which Roman practices are commonly used.Show less
