During archaeological excavations in the Nutriciaterrein area of Cuijk, in the province of North Brabant, in the north of the Netherlands, a find believed to be extremely rare has emerged: a Roman oil lamp finely decorated with a mask. The discovery fits within the known Roman site in the province of North Brabant, where more than eighty-five burials containing everyday objects such as jugs, plates, bottles and jewelry have been unearthed to date.
The oil lamp, which is characterized by unprecedented ornamental details, is unique to archaeologists, as objects of such decorative sophistication are uncommon in finds from the region. The archaeological context in which the oil lamp was found helps to paint a more definite picture of the local Roman settlement. The area, which served as a necropolis for the community, yielded burials characterized by richness and variety of materials, reflecting the social and economic complexity of the region during the Roman period. Each object recovered from the excavations represents a kind of time capsule, able to return information about the daily life, domestic habits and funerary practices of the inhabitants.
The discovery of the mask lantern assumes particular significance because of its state of preservation, but also because of the rarity of similar finds in the Netherlands. The typology of the object, the technique of manufacture, and the iconography used all add to a deeper understanding of the links between local communities and broader Roman culture. The discovery of the oil lamp thus constitutes a unicum that offers scholars a privileged window into the everyday life of the Cuijk community and Roman artistic production in the provincial area.
The Roman mask-decorated oil lamp found in Cuijk. Photo: ©Gemeente Land van Cuijk
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| Roman oil lamp decorated with a mask discovered in the Netherlands, a unicum in the country |
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