In Phase II finger rings are almost exclusive to female burials at Osteria dell'Osa (see Tables 6-8). Burials 46 and 214 are the only male burials with finger rings in Phase II, but the sex of each of these is highly uncertain. Burial 46 was identified as male on the basis of a few skull fragments (Becker and Salvadei 1992, 117), and the analysis of 214 rests on the tenuous evidence of 'a small bag of tiny bone fragments ... some of which seem to be of a skull' (Becker and Salvadei 1992, 142). Due to the ambiguity of the biological evidence, and the fact that both these individuals have a number of other 'female' ornaments in their corredi, it is feasible to suggest that they are, in fact, female.
Figure 9: Osteria dell'Osa cemetery, northern section, distribution of Phase II burials with finger rings (plan excludes burials with no surviving clothing or ornament in their grave goods) (L. Cougle, digitised in ArcMap after Bietti Sestieri 1992b, Fig. 7.1a)
Figure 9 shows that finger rings are more or less evenly distributed throughout the main group of the cemetery. Similar frequency is observable in the isolated groups of Phase II burials to the south, but only the main group will be examined here as it allows more explicit identification of patterning.
Eighty-nine Phase II burials (19.5 per cent) have at least one finger ring (see Tables 6-8). Of these, six cannot be assigned to a sub-phase of Phase II, 28 are dated to Phase IIA and 55 are identified as belonging to Phase IIB.
Figure 10: Osteria dell'Osa cemetery, northern section, distribution of burials with finger rings indicating number of finger rings per burial (plan excludes burials with no surviving clothing or ornament in their grave goods) (L. Cougle, digitised in ArcMap after Bietti Sestieri 1992b, Fig. 7.1a)
An immediately noticeable trend is the concentration of burials with three or more finger rings in the eastern part of the cemetery (see Figure 10). With three exceptions, women in the western part of the main cemetery are interred with one or two finger rings only. Phase IIA burials 113, 121 and 163 each have three finger rings, and each have relatively rich corredi. Burials 121 and 163 appear particularly prestigious, with an extensive range of ornaments in addition to their finger rings, and evidence of wooden biers or coffins in both burials. Traces of coffins are rare survivals at Osteria dell'Osa, being present in less than five per cent of burials, and all females with whom they are associated have at least two items of personal adornment - often many more. No coffin traces are reported from Phase III. The poor preservation of organic materials at Osteria dell'Osa makes it difficult to draw confident conclusions from this. However, if the use of coffins does cease in Phase III, this might indicate the beginnings of a move away from conspicuous consumption in burials that peaks in Phase IV (c. 720-580 BCE) (Bietti Sestieri 1992b, 243).
The distribution of certain finger ring types reveals patterning suggestive of a connection of particular styles to family groups. Most styles of ring are insufficiently numerous to allow identification of patterning, but some types have an indisputable connection to specific kinship groups.
Figure 11: Osteria dell'Osa cemetery, northern section, distribution of Phase II burials with type 46a finger rings (plan excludes burials with no surviving clothing or ornament in their grave goods) (L. Cougle, digitised in ArcMap after Bietti Sestieri 1992b, Fig. 7.1a)
Type 46a, a spiral finger ring, has a strong connection to the North cluster, with five of the nine examples (Figure 11). All date from Phase IIA, except burial 429 in cluster 402-450 which is assigned to Phase IIB. There is no apparent connection to age: individuals range from infant to adult. If, as Bietti Sestieri (1992b, 146) claims, the kinship groups reflect patrilocality, then the four individuals identified as female with ring 46a outside the North cluster might have married into other families. The youngest of these (burial 86) has been identified as being only 12-13 years old (Becker and Salvadei 1992, 124), which is young, but conceivably old enough for marriage. Although direct comparisons are not possible, it is interesting to note the existence of Roman laws (probably instituted by Augustus) that prescribed the minimum age of marriage for girls as 12 (Shaw 1987, 42). Unfortunately, we cannot be certain that burial 86 is in fact female.
Figure 12: Osteria dell'Osa cemetery, northern section, distribution of Phase II burials with type 46d finger rings (plan excludes burials with no surviving clothing or ornament in their grave goods) (L. Cougle, digitised in ArcMap after Bietti Sestieri 1992b, Fig. 7.1a)
Type 46d, a broad strap ring, is widely distributed in the eastern part of the main cemetery group and also in the Phase II cluster to the south (group 1-60) (Figure 12). These predominantly belong to Phase IIB, although burials 334, 458 and 491 belong to the latest part of Phase IIA. Burial 349 in the western part of the main group has the only example of this ring type in this area, but there is some doubt about its dating, and it could conceivably be a later intrusion.
Figure 13: Osteria dell'Osa cemetery, northern section, distribution of Phase II burials with type 46f finger rings (plan excludes burials with no surviving clothing or ornament in their grave goods) (L. Cougle, digitised in ArcMap after Bietti Sestieri 1992b, Fig. 7.1a)
The spiral finger ring type 46f occurs in five Phase IIA burials, one burial of undetermined Phase II date (burial 383), and is absent from Phase IIB before reappearing in Phase III (Figure 13). Three of the five Phase IIA examples (burials 147, 187 and 458) appear in different clusters, but two are in adjacent burials in the South cluster (153 and 156). These burials, both belonging to adult females, have rich corredi, but also have some grave goods suggestive of unusual social roles of the deceased. Burial 156 has a ceramic animal figurine, and 153 has an iron knife, which Bietti Sestieri (1992b, 151) suggests may be connected to a cultic role.
This limited examination of the spatial distribution of finger rings demonstrates that the connection of a particular style with an individual is not always determined by family affiliation. Some styles, such as 46a, have a clear connection to a particular family group, while others such as 46f seem connected to uncommon social roles or status.
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Last updated: Mon Jun 30 2008