Corredi e rituale funerario nel complesso paleocristiano di Fondo Giuliano a Vaste (Puglia meridionale)

Since 1991 in Vaste, inland of Otranto, archaeological excavations are bringing to light an important paleochristian complex including a church and a cemetery dating back to 4th-6th century A.D. The close interaction between the building and the graves possibly indicates that the church was founded as a martyrium, where the spoils of a holy martyr were worshipped. After the greco-gothic war a new bigger church was rebuilt over the former. The paper focuses on the analysis of the objects coming from the tombs as personal property of the deads or ritual accessories linked to Christian ceremonies: they should remind funerary banquets and baptism simbology. The whole cemetery can be referred to middle to high classes landowners, as shown by grave goods and anthropological data. In particular the artefacts include glass and pottery vases, gold, silver and bronze jewellery, bone pins and hair combs. At least 30 tombs contain bronze coins as sign of the traditional tip to Charon, souls ferryman. Among pottery vases the presence of lamps, dishes and bowls referring to oriental and northern African productions is particularly significant; some glass items come from Egypt and Siro-Palestinian region.