Animals in funerary space: Ethnic, social and functional aspects in Roman Switzerland

Animal bones from funeral contexts of two sites in Roman Switzerland, the legionary camp Vindonissa and the capital city Aventicum, are compared. Burning of meat offerings existed in both sites, but the burial of complete or partial animals is only documented in Aventicum. Apparently the method of deposition was dependent on the social and ethnic affiliation of the deceased, as well as the function of the settlement to which the graves belonged.