Possible Roman priestess found in Germany?

In 2013 the grave of a unique possible Roman priestess (2^nd century AD) was recovered from a Roman rural villa with a large temple district and some evidence of a tree cult at Erkelenz-Borschemisch (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). She was cremated wearing a golden-threaded dress and a golden hairnet. The architecture of the grave resembles the one of a temple grave. Furthermore the grave contained food offerings, more than 50 pottery, 3 glass vessels, a partially iron folding chair, a bronze washing basin with top and a jug, a plain lamp, a comb and a bone-needle.

Detail of  a wooden box with turtle shell reliefs from the grave of the Erkelenz-Borschemich priestess.
Photo: Jürgen Vogel, LVR-Landesmuseum Bonn

Additionally she was buried with artefacts that allow a possible reconstruction of her activities as priestess. An offering cup made out of cat’s eye with a floral and ornamental engraving of a snake with the tree of life, a hand sized one made out of amber, and a unique, exquisite wooden box (an accera) with tortoiseshell reliefs. They depict the Roman gods Mars, Juno, Apollo, Sol and Minerva as well as the Egyptian gods Serapes and Hermanubis. Cults of the latter are rare in the Germanic provinces. Previously only Cologne and Mainz were known.

8 tortoiseshell reliefs depicting Roman Gods originally found on the wooden box. 

The grave represents one of the most important recoveries of the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn during the last 5 years and a comprehensive publication of the grave is in press.

References:

LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn 2016. https://www.archaeologie-online.de/magazin/nachrichten/einzigartiges-roemisches-priesterinnengrab-39331/. Accessed 20/03/2016.

A. Schuler 2014, Römisches Grabidyll mit reichen Brandbestattungen bei Borschemich. Archäologie im Rheinland 2013, 141-144.

Translated and summarized by Chiara Girotto for Archaosoup Productions.