Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition

Ground Floor The Gallo-Roman Population of Switzerland and Their View of Death
Christian Burial
with the deceased (1). The proximity to the port and the presence of two tools used
for woodworking gave the archaeologists reason to speculate that the deceased
may have been a shipwright buried in his ”tool box“. Numerous offerings burnt on
the pyre such as animal bones (mainly from pigs) were placed on top of the box.
10. Wooden box as container for the ashes. Only three iron hinges, four iron fittings with
nails, an iron clip and an iron hook have been preserved.
11. Bronze handle of the box (?).
12. Iron saw, folded so that it would fit into the box.
13. Iron adze.
14. Iron pliers with the spring reinforced by a bronze strip.
15. Iron key.
16. Numerous ceramic vessels, totally or partially burnt. Imported tableware (dish,
plates, cups, bowls), locally produced pottery (pots, goblets, jug, bowl), kitchen crockery
(mortarium).
17. Fragment of handle from glass bottle.
18. Glass paste bead.
19. Bronze coin, probably dating from the second half of the 1st century AD.
20. Iron nails.
Inhumation Burial (2)
(Display case and drawer 4)
Tomb of a man
En Chaplix necropolis. AD 150 – 180.
The deceased was buried in a nailed wooden coffin (180 by 60 cm). He wore shoes
with nailed soles. Two jugs, a small bowl and a goblet, all produced locally, as well
as an imported plate and two cups were placed beside his right leg. This tableware
was used for eating and drinking.
1-2. Ceramic jugs.
3. Ceramic goblet.
4. Ceramic bowl.
5-6. Ceramic cups.
7. Ceramic plate.
8-9. Iron nails from two soles.
10. Iron coffin nails.
Christian Burial
(Display case and drawer 5)
Inhumation burial of a young girl
West gate necropolis. Mid 4th century AD.
1
2
11
Ground Floor
3
4
5