Burn Marks on a Roman Timber-Framed Building

Abstract

Several burn marks on timbers from a Roman building in London were recorded after excavation in the 1980s. Detailed investigation and experimental archaeology lead to the conclusion that the burn marks were made accidentally with an oil lamp, not deliberately. Such accidents would, however, be rare, and the burn marks found widely in post-medieval and medieval buildings of southern Europe must be the result of deliberate ritual activity.

Keywords:

• burn marks
• Roman
• ritual
• oil lamp

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are very grateful to Damian Goodburn, Senior Finds Specialist (Woodwork), Museum of London Archaeology, for permission to use his drawings. Thanks also to Dr Rebecca Redfern, Senior Curator, for facilitating access to the Museum of London’s archaeological store.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Dean and Hill, “Burn Marks.”

2 Goodburn, “A Roman Timber Framed Building Tradition.”

3 Goodburn, “A Roman Timber Framed Building Tradition,” 202.