The funeral stele of Superia (San Juan de Beleño, Ponga, Asturias) and its relationv with discoidal stelae

Abstract

A group of Latin sepulchral steles found inside the orient of Asturias, in the Cantabrian Vadiniense territory during ancient times, seems to be linked to the beginning of Christianity in the region.

In adittion of Magnentia, Dovidena and Noreno's epitaphs, the inscription disco- vered in Beleño (Ponga) and dedicated to Superia, is outstanding.

The absence of any Roman funerary formula, added to the presence of some Christian signs on the opening, and the sorrow that the death of their daughter must caused on his parents, bring us to designate this document as Christian. A more difficult problem is derived about its chronology, maybe III century.