OSTEO-PORCINE FUNERARY ARCHAEOLOGY:
First Evidence of Roman Pig-Jaw Funerary Ritual Uncovered in Israel. (Abdul Moeed, Greek Reporter).
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a Roman funerary pig ritual at a military camp near the base of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel, once home to more than 5,000 Roman soldiers.
Known as Legio, the site served as a permanent base for nearly 180 years, from around 117 to 300 CE. The discovery sheds light on burial customs practiced by Roman legions stationed far from the empire’s center.
[...]
The article notes that the underlying technical article is published in the current volume of the open-access journal ʻAtiqot:
Perry-Gal, Lee; Leyfirer, Greg; Adams, Matthew J.; and Tepper, Yotam (2025) "Pig Sacrifice and Feasting in Roman Funerary Practices: A Case Study of the Roman Legionary Cemetery at Legio," 'Atiqot: Vol. 117, Article 10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040X.2258
Available at: https://publications.iaa.org.il/atiqot/vol117/iss1/10. Abstract:
The Greek name for the pig is ὕς, once called θῦς from the verb θῦειν,
that is, ‘to sacrifice’ (Varro, Rust. 4.9)
Excavations in the Roman cemetery near the Legio VI Ferrata legionary base, dated to the second–third centuries CE, exposed a pit containing the remains of at least 13 domestic pigs represented by jaws, primarily mandibles. This study presents new evidence of the role of pigs in Roman military ceremonies, specifically in funerary practices, based on comparable archaeological data and historical and iconographic evidence. The discovery provides valuable insights into the role of pigs in Roman burial practices, suggesting that these remains do not represent the economic waste of mundane consumption activities, but rather reflect practices associated with funerary ceremonies conducted at this Roman
cemetery. The new evidence sheds light on burial practices within the Eastern Roman provinces in the Levant, particularly of Roman legions in the province of Syria Palastina.
Incidentally, this volume of 'Atiqot (
Volume 117, 2025) is devoted to the Archaeology of Death.
This volume of ‘Atiqot focuses on the archaeology of death, discussing mortuary contexts and practices throughout the ages. The enigmatic nature of burials and their association with different perceptions of the afterlife have drawn scholarly interest, as did the frequently opulent and well-preserved burial artifacts. The diverse funerary contexts provide valuable insights into the individuals buried there, their social standing and associated ritual practices.
I have already noted articles from it
here and
here. There are other interesting ones that may come up.
For more on the Legio VI Ferrata (6th Legion Ironclad) Roman camp near the site of Megiddo, start here and follow the links.
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