Contextualising Treveran Grave Monuments

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Anja Klöckner; Dr. Marcus Reuter; Professor Dr. Markus Scholz
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology ; Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 471888312

Aiming to contextualize Roman grave monuments in the area of the Treveri, for the first time, various archaeological find groups are within the scope of the applied project. Apart from large built grave monuments, which two predecessor projects made accessible, other grave markers of different shapes and formats have a considerable spatial impact and form the perception of space far beyond the funerary sphere. This is why the new project shall focus on a formal, spatial, functional and semiotic (re-)contextualisation of all grave monuments, on the relations between them and on the reconstruction of the funerary landscape. Leading questions are how the various grave monuments connect to settlements and how they are embedded into the landscape, and, thereby, how the funerary landscape developed (C1). This is key to analyse strategies and dynamics of variation in terms of motifs, ornaments and architectural design, both in the area of the Treveri and beyond (C3). A case study will focus on the layout, structure and use of the necropolis in one place and shall inquire into spatial and ritual dimensions of the commemorative culture in Roman times (C2). Furthermore, digital modelling techniques help to examine the aesthetics and guidance of reception (B1) as well as the colour coding and polychromy of grave monuments (B2). Project part (=PP) A will amplify the material to single out the interdependencies in the visual repertoire of different grave types with respect to figural and ornamental motifs and their elaboration. PP B1 will provide timely visualisations of well-known grave monuments, whereas PP B2 explores the technical possibilities for the reconstruction of the original colours to discover a poorly preserved and under-researched level in visual representations of Roman time. We can study the development of the funerary landscape only based on the digital map and the visual analysis generated in PP C1, also considering different viewer perspectives. Together with PP A and B1, this is required to conduct the semiotic analysis in PP C3. Primarily the fundamental research in PP C1 allows adding a geospatial component to our applied concept of strategies and dynamics of variation. Moreover, mapping visual variations permits tracing the transfer of forms beyond the civitas-borders just as it reveals the locally and regionally created imagery and its enhancements.Said concept captures visual refractions in stone that refer to the motivations of local sponsors to represent themselves in what they considered an up-to-date manner and by which we can relate them to the functional contexts they were produced for and in use. As an exemplary case study, a detailed local analysis investigates further external parameters and their impact on the development of the funerary landscape (PP C2). The aim of this holistic strategy is to gain a new perspective on the funerary culture of Roman imperial times in the entire area of the Treveri.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria, Luxembourg
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Rosemarie Cordie
• Cooperation Partners: Professorin Dr. Andrea Binsfeld; Dr. Gabrielle Kremer