Consolation in death. Three cameos from the Roman necropolis of Barboși
Consolation in death. Three cameos from the Roman necropolis of Barboși

Summary/Abstract: The Barboși archaeological site represents an interesting Roman settlement in the Lower Danube area. As such, the preventive archaeological excavations undertaken in 2020 at the point called Metalhard offered the possibility to research and better understand the ancient necropolis of the site. A single dig unit S1 (Surface #1) was excavated, and research led to the unearthing of 22 graves, two funerary enclosures, and a large Roman defensive ditch. Two of the inhumation graves, which were probably robbed in ancient times, contained three unique pieces of jewellery. First, grave Cx. 1223 revealed a pair of gold earrings with cameos that have engraved the head of a feminine figure identified as a Gorgon. Also, grave Cx. 1211 contained, besides two fragmentary leather shoe soles, a gold finger ring with a cameo of a male persona, the image of the god Hermes. Apart from being a series of precious offerings for the dead, they represent the care of the safe and protected passage towards the afterlife.

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