Dr. Allison Sterrett-Krause Publishes on “Drinking with the Dead”

Congratulations to Dr. S.-K. whose article, “Drinking with the Dead? Glass from Roman and Christian Burial Areas at Leptiminus (Lamta, Tunisia),” has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Glass Studies.

Summary: Excavations by the Leptiminus Archaeological Project at the East Cemetery in Leptiminus (Lamta, Tunisia) revealed a substantial quantity of late Roman and Byzantine glass fragments. Some of these vessel fragments, found in tombs, may represent grave gifts or symbolize elements of funerary ritual. Most of the vessels, found in nonburial contexts that formed during the cemetery’s periods of use (late second–late sixth centuries), suggest that glass vessels probably played an important role in commemorative activities at the cemetery. The presence of possible glass drinking sets in an area used for Christian burials suggests that rituals involving drinking or pouring libations may have regularly taken place nearby. These rituals probably followed longstanding traditions associated with commemorating the deceased in Roman society, highlighting the role of glass vessels in creating continuities between Roman and Christian practice.