A Roman provincial cult site on Gradisce

The publication presents research results that could be achieved in the course of the scientific processing of an exceptional archaeological site near St. Egyden in Carinthia (Austria). In the small cave on a hill called Gradišce, a thick layer of ash was excavated, which contained numerous fragments of Roman ceramic vessels and animal bones. In addition, a large number (328 pieces) of Roman coins were discovered in and around the cave. The scientific evaluation has shown that the place is a cult site and the finds are remains of feasts and offerings. Particularly noteworthy finds are a bull figurine and ceramic vessels decorated with applied snakes. Small ceramic lamps indicate that the cult celebrations took place at night. The vessels and animal bones show that a lot of wine was drunk at these celebrations and that especially meat of poultry and piglets was eaten. The finds, especially the coins, suggest that the site was used from the middle or late 2 nd to the beginning of the 5th century AD. During the excavations on Gradišce, no inscription citing a deity and no cult image depicting a deity were found. Therefore, no clear statement can be made about which deity was worshiped there. Scientific research has shown, that the site and range of finds correspond very well with other caves in the Roman Empire, for which inscriptions and/or reliefs attest the practice of the mysteries of Mithras. Therefore Mithras was probably the deity whose cult was practiced in the small cave on Gradišce. Ancient mysteries are characterized by the secrecy of their members, which is why little is known about cult practice. More detailed ideas about the gatherings of a small rural community of Mithras followers in a natural sanctuary in the south of the Roman province of Noricum have been developed for the first time through the present analysis of archaeological data.