New insights into Roman gypsum burials in Yorkshire
The Seeing the Dead project investigates the intriguing Roman funerary custom of pouring liquid gypsum over the bodies of adults and children in coffins of wood, stone, or lead prior to burial. This practice has been particularly noted in Roman Yorkshire in the 3rd and 4th centuries, but little evidence exists in other parts of the UK.
This three-year AHRC-funded project explores the little-known practice of pouring liquid gypsum over the bodies of adults and children in coffins of wood, stone, or lead prior to burial. The hardening gypsum then formed a cavity around the decomposing body, and in this gypsum casing the contours of the dead and the clear imprint of their clothing and shrouds are preserved.
The project aims to apply state-of-the-art research methods and scientific techniques to the investigation of both the 22 known surviving gypsum casings and the 9 preserved sets of human remains. These integrated methods aim to determine the age, sex, and health of the dead, their diet, their genetic ancestry, and their potential geographical origins. Additionally, the analyses conducted on the casings should reveal any evidence of resins, dyes, and chemicals originally used on the textiles, and potentially identify any grave goods enveloped in the shrouds.
The project's origins
The project's origins date back to 2022, when Heritage360 undertook a number of trial 3D scans in the Yorkshire Museum's Roman Galleries, which were at the time under-refurbishment. Amongst the trial scans was a gypsum burial cast of two adults and a small child - possibly a family. When viewing the cast, the 'negative' impressions of the individuals can be distinguished, but the successful scan allowed this data to be inverted, or 'flipped upside down', to show the 'positive' outlines - see the scan below.
In addition to the form of the three individuals, the high resolution of the 3D scan allows the folds of the burial wrappings to be distinguished... and even the string ties securing the fabrics at the head of the large individual! This stunning visualisation led to conversations with University of York Roman specialist Professor Maureen Carroll, and the foundations of Seeing the Dead project were laid.
Heritage360 is leading the project's Work Package 2: Visualising the Dead. This research aims to extend the initial 3D scanning work undertaken in the Yorkshire Museum to the other examples held in the Museum's stores. Other plaster casts will also be scanned, including an example from the Danum Museum and Gallery in Doncaster.
Heritage360 has also created the project's website, which will include interactive, database-driven resources detailing the project's discoveries and digital outputs.