If you’ve ever wandered through a Roman archaeological dig site or binged a deep-dive history doc on ancient burial customs, you’ve probably stumbled on the phrase “grave goods” — those little treasures, tools, and trinkets folks tucked into tombs with their dead, right? As someone who’s spent the last 8 years sourcing, testing, and curating reproductions of these exact items for museums, reenactment groups, and history buffs, let me tell you: I’ve seen every weird, wonderful, and totally practical thing ancient Romans couldn’t bear to leave behind when their loved ones moved on. This isn’t just some “random old junk” list — these items were carefully chosen, tied to Roman beliefs about the afterlife, social status, and even daily life, and I’ve spent years making sure my reproductions are as accurate as possible for anyone looking to add a piece of Roman history to their collection. Grave Goods
First off, let’s get one thing straight: Roman grave goods weren’t one-size-fits-all. A wealthy senator’s tomb had way different stuff than a farmer’s or a enslaved person’s, and even kids’ graves had their own specific items. But there are some common, super widespread pieces you’ll find across almost every region of the Roman Empire, from Rome itself out to places like Britain, Spain, and North Africa. Let’s break ‘em down, since I work with these every day, I’ve got the tea on what’s actually authentic and what’s just a “generic ancient thing” people try to pass off.
Start with the basics you literally can’t avoid: pottery and kitchenware. Romans ate way more elaborate meals than most people realize, and they wanted their loved ones to have a full larder in the underworld. I’ve found that 9 out of 10 graves have at least one ceramic vessel — usually a olla (that’s a deep clay pot for cooking stew or grain), a amphora (wait, not just for wine — smaller amphorae for olive oil, honey, even garum, that fermented fish sauce they obsessed over), or a small bowl or cup for drinking. What’s wild is that these aren’t just random pots: poorer graves have plain, unglazed terracotta that would’ve been affordable for day-to-day use, while richer ones have gloss-finished samian ware (that red, glossy stuff that’s super recognizable) or even bronze or silver vessels if you were top-tier. I remember last year a group of Roman reenactors ordered 50 plain ollae for a replica rural burial site they were building — they needed stuff that looked like what a regular farmer would’ve left for his wife, and plain terracotta was exactly what he’d have used, not some fancy painted pot. No one wants a fake for a project that’s supposed to be authentic, right?
Next, personal items — the stuff people used every day, and couldn’t imagine life (or death) without. Hair pins are huge, I’ve ordered tons of these for museum displays and reenactors. Women (and even some men, surprisingly!) wore these to keep their hair in place, and they were often made of bronze, bone, or even silver if you had the cash. A lot of graves have broken ones too — it wasn’t seen as bad luck to bury a favorite broken hair pin, that just meant it was truly theirs. Then there’s strigils — you know, those curved metal tools Romans used to scrape off sweat and oil at the public bath. I’ve had bath house reenactors beg me for accurate strigils because no one wants a plastic toy for their display. Men almost always had at least one strigil in their grave, and sometimes a small knife too — either for cutting food, or for a little protection in the underworld, which makes sense when you think about it. Kids’ graves are my favorite: I’ve found tiny toy soldiers, miniature pottery plates, even little clay animals, like dogs or sheep, that would’ve been for little ones to play with in death. Last month a teacher ordered a dozen tiny clay animals for a 5th grade history project about Roman kids, and she told me the kids went nuts for ‘em — they couldn’t believe how “cute” a 2,000-year-old toy would look exactly like the real thing.
Wait, can’t forget jewelry and coins! Coins are basically the universal grave good in ancient Rome, right? Everyone from a enslaved person to an emperor got at least one coin buried with them. Why? Because of Charon, the ferryman who took souls across the River Styx — the rule was you had to pay him a coin, otherwise you’d be stuck wandering the banks forever. That’s why you almost always find one coin over the mouth or eyes of a corpse, or tucked in their hand. I work with a couple of mint specialists who make accurate replica Roman coins (they don’t counterfeit real ones, don’t worry) so I’ve got denarii (the standard silver coin) and aes (bronze coins) in stock all the time. A lot of people buy these for their own family graves, or for displays, and honestly, it’s such a cool, meaningful little item. Then jewelry: rings, bracelets, necklaces, even earrings. Rings were super popular — not just for women, men wore signet rings to stamp documents, so a lot of men were buried with their favorite signet ring. I’ve gotten requests for replica signet rings with all kinds of designs, from eagles (the symbol of Rome) to family crests. Rich folks had gold or gemstone jewelry, but poorer people wore glass, bone, or bronze, which is what most of my stock is for — it’s accurate, affordable, and looks just like what you’d find in a average Roman grave.
Another big one: oil lamps. Romans lit their homes, tombs, everything with these little clay or bronze lamps that held oil and a wick. They were essential for night, so of course you buried them with the dead. Most graves have at least one, and sometimes more — if you were wealthy, you might have a fancy bronze lamp with a decorative handle, if you were poor, a simple clay one with a rough design. I’ve had so many people order these for their own home decor too, but for grave good replicas, I make sure they’re not just pretty — they’re the right shape and size, just like what actual Romans used to bury. Last year a customer ordered 20 clay oil lamps for a replica Roman cemetery he was building for a historical park, and he told me he tested them (don’t worry, he had permission!) and they actually burned just like the real ones. Cool, right?
Wait, are there any weird ones? Oh, definitely. I’ve seen graves with little clay figurines of gods — especially Jupiter, Venus, or Mercury, since Mercury was the guide for souls to the underworld. That makes sense, you’d want a god on your side for that trip. Sometimes you’d get food items too, though those don’t survive very well — dried fruits, nuts, even small loaves of bread, but those are mostly found in dry climates like Egypt. And then there’s weapons for soldiers! If a Roman died in the army, you’d bury their sword, shield, even a helmet with them. I work with a lot of reenactment groups that do Roman military burials, so I’ve got replica gladii (the short swords Roman soldiers carried), pila (the javelins they threw), and even small shield emblems for their graves. That’s a huge part of the culture too — a soldier’s identity was tied to his gear, so he’d take it with him.
Now, let’s talk about what’s actually important when looking for these items. A lot of places sell “ancient Roman grave goods” that are either reproductions that look nothing like the real thing, or even fake ancient artifacts (which, FYI, is a huge no-no for collectors, museums, or anyone who cares about accuracy). That’s why I’ve built my business over the last 8 years by only working with archaeologists and artisans who actually know what they’re doing. I test every item to make sure it’s the right size, shape, material, and even age (for real ancient items, but most of my work is for reproductions, which are way more accessible for most people). Whether you’re a museum putting together a Roman exhibit, a reenactment group planning a burial event, a teacher doing a history project, or someone who just loves ancient Rome and wants a meaningful piece for your collection, I’ve got you covered.
If you’re looking for accurate, authentic-feeling Roman grave goods — from plain pottery for a rural farmer’s grave to strigils, coins, oil lamps, and even military gear for a soldier’s burial — I can help. I work with clients all over the world, I can customize orders for whatever size or style you need, and I only source items that are historically accurate, no cheap knockoffs. Whether you need one item for a personal project or a bulk order for a museum or park, get in touch with me to talk through what you’re looking for, answer any questions you have, and make sure you get exactly what you need. No fluff, no weird middlemen, just straight-up accurate Roman grave goods for whatever your project or collection is.
Cremation Urn with Moisture Protection References:
- Beard, M. (2016). SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. Liveright Publishing.
- Toynbee, J. M. C. (1971). Death and Burial in the Roman World. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Gesch, B. (2009). Roman Funerary Customs and the Afterlife. The Classical World.
- Rich, J. (2012). The Oxford Handbook of Roman Studies. Oxford University Press.
Anhui Herun Handicrafts Co., Ltd.
With abundant experience, we are one of the most professional grave goods manufacturers and suppliers in China. Please feel free to wholesale high quality grave goods made in China here from our factory. We also accept customized orders.
Address: No. 8, Xinfa North Road, Industrial Park, Yangcun Town, Tianchang City, Chuzhou City, Anhui Province
E-mail: Anhhr2021@163.com
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