Ashes to ashes. Fuelwood selection in Roman cremation rituals in northern Gaul

To analyse fuelwood collection strategies in Roman funerary rituals in northern Gaul, a large number of charcoal fragments from Roman cremation graves has been identified. The wide variety of taxa found suggests that no particular taxa have been avoided. Also no significant differences have been found between the charcoal assemblages of different types of graves and between graves belonging to different types of settlements. On the other hand, comparison with the charcoal assemblages from Roman refuse deposits, reflecting domestic fuel use, shows an overrepresentation of Quercus sp., Alnus sp. and Fagus sylvatica, and a much lower taxonomic variety in the cremation graves. This is believed to be the consequence of functional rather than ritually or symbolically oriented fuelwood selection strategies.

► Charcoal from both Roman cremation graves and refuse deposits was analysed. ► Quercus sp., Alnus sp. and Fagus sylvatica are overrepresented in the graves. ► No particular taxa have been avoided. ► No indications for ritual based fuelwood selection strategies have been found. ► Fuelwood selection for cremation was functional rather than ritual.