Roman Provincial Archaeology

Introduction:
This paper seeks to address the following questions: Can we establish that meaningful relationships existed between some Gallo-Roman sanctuaries and the Iron Age lieux de mémoire (‘places of memory’) over which they were founded if the sites experienced periods of abandonment? If so, could we then view their histories as continuous? Previously, scholars have allowed continuity of place in these cases, but generally denied that any substantive relationship existed between the two epochs. Further, the modern definition of continuity does not allow sites with significant interruptions of occupation or activity to be described as having a ‘continuous’ history. However, in this paper, I will propose that we consider continuity differently. I believe that continuity may also be demonstrated by the enduring significance that places of memory possessed for local communities, a significance that attracted the foundation of new central places, and could be appropriated at sites’ reoccupation. Through the appropriation of places of memory, newly founded central places were linked to past epochs of sites’ histories, and granted legitimacy to define contemporary identities by their antiquity.
In order to present this alternative notion of continuity, I will outline a theoretical framework that uses the concepts of central places and lieux de mémoire to model the progression of sites from their initial states, through their periods of abandonment, and into their later histories. I believe that by reconsidering continuity within the framework of these concepts, we will gain a better understanding of how these sites were perceived and experienced in antiquity, and may wish to revise how we define continuity to better suit ancient perspectives.
The initial section of this paper will be devoted to the theoretical aspects of the topic. It will define places of memory and central places, and present the theoretical framework. The second section will illustrate the theoretical considerations using the case study of Ribemont-sur-Ancre, the well-known Gallo-Roman sanctuary founded upon a place of memory from the La Tène B2/C1 period (late third century B.C.). The case study will address: the creation of the place of memory at Ribemont, and the activity of its initial epoch; what it came to mean to the local community over its period of abandonment; and how the site’s significance was appropriated at the foundation of the Gallo-Roman sanctuary in the early Roman period. Discussion of Ribemont will conclude with an illustration of how the site’s history may be modelled using the study’s theoretical framework, and brief summary of the sanctuary’s subsequent development. The final section of the paper before the conclusion will briefly address three comparative examples – Gournay-sur-Aronde, Nitry, and Mirebeau-sur-Bèze – to illustrate how the theoretical framework may be applied to other sanctuaries for future studies.
While addressing only one case study in detail in this paper, I believe that the framework presented here may be applied to many other Gallo-Roman sanctuaries founded upon places of memory in Gaul and Britain. Hopefully, the parallels and interactions between the concepts of lieux de mémoire and central places discussed here will encourage further integration of the concepts in future considerations.

Das kelten römer museum manching zeigte in Kooperation mit Mules of Marius eine Erlebnisausstellung, die das römische Militär auf anschauliche, unterhaltsame und interaktive Weise erneut zum Leben erweckte. Kleine und große Gäste durften sich auf faszinierende Modelle, lebensgroße Zeichnungen, Repliken zum Anfassen und spannende Mitmachstationen freuen. +++ Projektleitung: Tobias Esch und Thomas Kurtz

This project presents and analyses all of the signet rings and intaglios so far unearthed in Roman Britain to reinterpret how they were used and their role within provincial society. These small artefacts have traditionally been regarded as attractive but relatively insignificant minor objets d’art, with little relevance to the wider discourses of Romanists. This thesis attempts a more critical examination of how they were used and their role within provincial Roman society. I argue that signet rings were an essential element in provincial society that should no longer be overlooked. This project builds on the pioneering Corpus assembled by Martin Henig in the 1970s, including more recent
discoveries and more than doubling the material available to him. This combined body of evidence includes 2,012 signet rings and intaglios, making it one of the largest contextualised assemblages of these objects ever studied. It also benefits from the results of developer funded archaeology and the advent of recording by the Portable Antiquities Scheme, enabling us to create a richer and more detailed picture how they were used.

My approach has been to resituate these objects in terms of the archaeological context in which they were found, but also to consider them as functional as well as decorative objects. When
studied in this way signet rings provide a unique perspective on the identity of their wearers, and how they wanted to present themselves to others. I have found growing evidence for the use of signet rings amongst local elites before the Roman invasion of Britain, and it is clear that they had a role to play in negotiating identity after the conquest. I have also been able to identify trends in the way that different communities used signet rings, both as regards their imagery and materiality. It is also apparent that in
some parts of Britain these objects remained a feature of a type of dress and the hallmark of a society that remained alien to their inhabitants throughout the Roman period. However, for those who chose to wear them, signet rings could be more than just objects but reflections of themselves.

The  ruins of the ancient Lydian city of Hypaipa are to be found in the village of Datbey/Günlüce in the Ödemiş district of Izmir. Archaeological explorations at Hypaipa started in early nineteenth century. The first and only official excavation at the site was conducted in 1882 by Demosthenes Baltazzi authorised by Osman Hamdi Bey, director of the Ottoman Imperial Museum. At Hypaipa, known for its beautiful women, the cult of Artemis Anaitis was very famous and was related to the Persian goddess Anahita; consequently, the countermark of Artemis Anaitis was frequently used on the Roman Imperial coinage of the city. The story of Arachne of Hypaipa, turned to a spider by Athena, was well known across the ancient Mediterranean. This book hopes to serve as a reminder of Hypaipa’s legacy, long sunken into silence.

I membri del collegio di Nemesiaci oggetti di richiamo imperiale in un
provvedimento del 412 nel Codice Teodosiano sono figure di controversa interpretazione nella storia degli studi. Per comprendere le attività da essi svolte e come queste potessero configurarsi come un servizio pubblico, si analizzano gli aspetti del culto di Nemesi in età imperiale e in particolar modo il collegamento della dea con gli spettacoli anfiteatrali. Si esaminano poi le poche testimonianze epigrafiche e letterarie relative ai Nemesiaci e il loro frequente collegamento con Diana e la caccia. Infine, si propone di leggere il provvedimento sui Nemesiaci nel quadro della politica imperiale di controllo dei giochi pubblici tra IV e V secolo d.C.

Tios (Zonguldak-Filyos) kentteki arkeolojik kazılar 2007 senesinden beri Karadeniz Ereğli Müzesi adına, sırasıyla Prof. Dr. Sümer Atasoy ve Doç. Dr. Şahin Yıldırım’ın bilimsel danışmanlıklarıyla akropolis, antik liman, tiyatro ve nekropolis alanlarında yürütülmüş ve bölge tarihinin güncellenmesine olanak veren önemli buluşlara sahne olmuştur. Arkeolojik çalışmalara paralel olarak yürütülen epigrafik araştırmalar da kentten günümüze ulaşmış Hellenistik ve Roma dönemlerine ait mezar taşlarını, onurlandırma heykel kaidelerini, adakları, miltaşlarını, ticari ağırlıklarını ve diğer türlerdeki yazıtlı buluntuları gün yüzüne çıkarmıştır.

Bu buluntular arasından beyaz mermerden silindir bir onurlandırma heykel kaidesinin üzerindeki yazıtının ise sadece bu kentin değil aynı zamanda Anadolu’nun Roma tarihi açısından önem arz ettiği anlaşılmıştır. Zira antik literatürde sadece ünlü yazar Nikaialı Cassius Dio’nun (MS yak. 150-235) Roma tarihini kaleme aldığı eserinde (Rhomaika, 79.39.5) adı geçen Roma İmparatorluğu’nun Pontus-Bithynia Eyaleti Valisi Caecilius Aristo, bu unvanıyla ilk defa bu yazıtta belgelenmiş oldu. Yazıtın çevirisi şöyledir:

Tiosluların pek görkemli/gösterişli kenti, legatus Augusti propraetore (imparatorun praetor mertebesindeki elçisi) Caecilius Aristo’nun yönetim döneminde... (şu kişi/kişileri onurlandırdı)

Bilinen tarihe göre, Roma İmparatorluğu’nun iç savaşlarla çalkalandığı bir dönemde Roma İmparatoru Caracalla’yı, kendisinin tertiplediği bir suikastla (MS 08.04.217) öldürtmeyi başaran Macrinus imparator olmayı başarmıştı. Ancak bu kez kendisi Iulia Maesa’nın himayesinde olan torunu Varius Avitus’a yani namı diğer Elagabalus’a karşı Antiokheia’daki savaşı kaybetmiştir. Bir seneden biraz fazla tahtta kalabilmiş devrik imparator Macrinus bunun üzerine gizli bir şekilde Roma’ya gitmeye ve Senato ile halkı ikna ederek iktidarını yeniden elde etmeyi amaçlamıştır. Böylece kılık değiştirerek Kilikia, Kappadokia, Galatia ve Bithynia bölgeleri üzerinden Eribolon’daki (İhsaniye) limana ulaşmış buradan Kalkhedon’a varmıştır. İşte Cassius Dio tam da bu noktada Macrinus’un, Vali Caecilius Aristo’nun korkusundan (Eyalet Başkenti) Nikomedeia’ya girmeye çekindiğini belirtmiştir. Dolayısıyla, Dio’nun MS 08.06.218’den kısa bir süre sonrasını kayda geçen bu cümlesi, bugüne kadar Aristo’nun o dönemde bölge valisi olduğunun dolaylı yoldan belgesiydi. Ancak şimdi Tios’ta ortaya çıkan bu yazıtla, önceki kariyerinin ufak bir kısmı Roma’daki birkaç belgeden tanınan Caecilius Aristo’nun hem adı hem de eyalet valiliği doğrulanmış oldu.

Sarkophag, um 300 n. Chr. Inschrift AE 1996,1095=AE1999,1086; EDCS-03000646: Callosiae Clamosae co(n)i/ugi carissimae quae vexit / annis XXVIIII et m(ensibus) V d(iebus) n(umero) XVIIII / cui Fl(avius) A[---] v(ir) p(erfectissimus) p(rae)p(ositus) v/inorum coniux eius faci/undum curavit.

An understudied subset of phallic small finds are pendants made of Egyptian faience and visually similar materials which depict the male pelvis with visibly flaccid genitalia. This paper brings together 43 flaccid phallus pendants from 22 archaeological sites, primarily dating from the 1st c BC – 3rd c AD. While these pendants are often associated with the Mediterranean, they are frequently recovered archaeologically in the Near East, around the Black Sea, and even in Central Asia, sometimes in the burials of adults and women. Though flaccid male genitalia pendants may lack the apotropaic erections found on other phallic amulets and imagery, these objects may have protected wearers through their perceived ties with Phoenician and Egyptian cultures and their use in conjunction with other apotropaic amulets on necklaces and pendant strings (crepundia).

le 30e colloque de l'AFPMA aura lieu les vendredi 24 et samedi 25 novembre 2017 au musée départemental Arles antique à Arles.

Vous trouverez ci joint le programme de ces 30e rencontre et dans une autre rubrique la fiche d'inscription auditeur à retourner avant le 31 octobre.

La intervención arqueológica realizada en el yacimiento romano de “La Mata I” (Aznalcázar, Sevilla) ha puesto al descubierto los restos de la pars rustica de una villa romana y una serie de enterramientos tardorromanos aislados.

The archaeological intervention carried out in the Roman site named “La Mata I” (Aznalcázar, Sevilla) exposes to view the remains of the pars rustica of a Roman villa and several isolated interments dating from late Roman period.

The paper provides a review of the revised archaeological field survey of the core zone of the Roman mining area between the villages of Guberevac, Stojnik, Babe and Parcani. The Roman mines in this area were the most important sources of lead and silver in the area of metalla Tricornensia, one of the four mining territories in Moesia Superior within the metalla Moesiae Superioris.
After reviewing the available data that originates from the Kosmaj mining area, preserved documentation from the explorations and published material, we realised that in order to understand this complex area it was necessary to resort to new, more extensive archaeological
field survey. A significant number of registered and excavated archaeological sites had no precise data about their locations, and it is impossible to consider the spatial organisation of the mining area without that category of data.
Because of the above said, we have decided to continue, after an almost three-decade long pause, the field archaeological explorations of the Kosmaj mining area, the first phase of which was new archaeological field survey. Based on the consideration of the spatial distribution
of the registered Roman sites, the character of movable finds and papers about the organisation of the Roman mining areas, we divided the Kosmaj mining area into three parts: 1) military fortification with the central mining settlement, 2) core zone of the mines, 3) broader zone of the mines. During the revised field survey that has been performed so far, we directed our attention to accomplishing two goals. The first was to precisely locate the already registered archaeological sites, with the aim of establishing their current condition, to assess their exploration potential and secure sufficient data to create a report for declaring
the site a cultural monument. The second goal was to inspect as much of the mining area as possible, to gain an insight into its state of preservation and whether it was in jeopardy, and to collect data needed for planning further systematic field survey. Newly discovered sites
were also registered during this process. Because of limitations regarding the length of this paper, described are only the sites from the core zone of the mine area: the military fortification, the zone of the civilian settlement, certain buildings from the Roman period and the
exploitation zone (slag deposits, pinges, mineshafts). Particular attention was paid to establishing the shape of the Roman castel in Gradište (a polygonal shape with a circumference of around 600 m, with a ‘small town’ within it, on an oval elevation with a diameter of 55 m,
surrounded by a trench), and all the existing and newly registered mineshafts (Table 1, six existing and five newly registered mineshafts). Besides a critical review of the existing studies of this area and a warning about the intense devastation of the archaeological sites, the
paper provides basic guidelines for further investigation and protection treatment of the Roman mining complex.

La sospecha sobre la incorrecta traducción que se venía haciendo del fundamental texto sobre Mérida de Dión Casio, LIII, 26, 1 (al.ed. LIII, 25, 8, cf. infra, nº 3) me asaltó en 1986 gracias al préstamo, por mi buen amigo Michael Blech, del DAIM, de la monografía recién aparecida de Michel Casevitz sobre la terminología usual en los textos sobre la colonización griega clásica, y su posterior evolución (Le vocabulaire de la colonisation en grec ancien. Etude léxicologique: la famille de ktitso et de oikéo-oikítso, Études et Commentaires 97, París, 1985). Aunque Casevitz no citaba el caso de Mérida, los paralelos que leí en él para época romana me incitaron a revisar bajo una nueva y distinta perspectiva la traducción de tan famoso texto, que para todos los autores "clavaba" la fundación 'ex novo' de Augusta Emerita en el 25 a.C., y a buscar otros indicios que apoyaran la preexistencia de Mérida. Eso fue lo que hice desde 1986, aunque sabía lo difícil que es en España ir contra corriente en un asunto indiscutido, uno de los muchos axiomas históricos en vigor. Y claro que los había, bastantes hechos anómalos y sin explicar. La mayoría (11) los expuse en 1987 (publ. en 1990: http://www.academia.edu/2406869/_Las_tres_fundaciones_de_Augusta_Emerita_ ), y otros en otras publicaciones posteriores (véase al final una sucinta relación). Luego he añadido otros nueve argumentos más, hasta 20. En este artículo los enumero todos, en forma lógicamente breve, y divididos en dos grupos: 1) argumentos histórico-epigráficos y numismáticos, y 2) argumentos de orden arqueológico, explicados lo más claramente posible y ordenados según el peso que les atribuyo, excepto los núms. 19 y 20, que considero de carácter fundamental y cierran las reflexiones (este trabajo, en Internet ya en 2004 y 2005 http://www.celtiberia.net/articulo.asp?id=1597 , está siendo objeto de una publicación en formato más científico). Véase tb., sobre dos réplicas, http://www.celtiberia.net/articulo.asp?id=1597#r21239 y http://www.celtiberia.net/articulo.asp?id=1597#r21615

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird aufgrund von intensivem Quellenstudium des lokalhistorisch relevanten Archivmaterials und Geländebeobachtungen, die Existenz der - nunmehr bereits durch erste Untersuchungen durch das BDA bestätigte - Ziegelei in Witzmannsdorf (Marktgemeinde Wallsee-Sindelburg) postuliert.

Abstract (ENG)

The aim of this thesis is the study – based on an inventory – of the Merovingian reuse of Roman stone buildings in the northern part of the kingdom of Austrasia (Belgium, The Netherlands and the North of France), and to determine the motifs, the diffusion and the date of the re-use. In the first chapter, definitions are formed and the history and geography of the study area defined. Next, the Merovingian archaeology in the study area is recapitulated and the Merovingian re-use is set in a larger Western-European framework. The thesis then analyses three forms of re-use: re-occupation, funerary re-use and religious re-use, set against a large array of factors. After the analysis an interpretation is made. Here, the thesis draws on several sources such as reference works of other Western-European regions and countries on Merovingian re-use, but also late-Roman archaeology and Merovingian archaeology in general. In conclusion, the thesis argues that re-use must be acknowledged as a part of the Merovingian settlement pattern rather than a phenomenon. Finally, this thesis hopes to be a starting point in the study of Merovingian re-use in the study area, and to offer a reference work of the study area for further national and international research.


Résumé (FR)

Le but de cette thèse est de faire un inventaire et d'étudier la réutilisation mérovingienne des bâtiments romains en pierre dans la partie nord du royaume d'Austrasie (Belgique, Pays-Bas et Nord de la France), et de déterminer les motifs, la diffusion et la date de cette réutilisation. Dans le premier chapitre, des définitions sont formées et l'histoire et la géographie de la zone d'étude sont définiées. Ensuite, l'archéologie mérovingienne dans la zone d'étude est récapitulée et la réutilisation mérovingienne est replacée dans un cadre plus large d'Europe occidentale. La thèse analyse ensuite trois formes de réutilisation: la réoccupation, la réutilisation funéraire et la réutilisation religieuse, par rapport à un large éventail de facteurs. Après l'analyse, une interprétation est faite. Ici, la thèse s'appuie sur plusieurs sources telles que les ouvrages de référence d'autres régions et pays d'Europe occidentale sur la réutilisation mérovingienne, mais aussi sur l'archéologie de la fin de l'époque romaine et l'archéologie mérovingienne en général. En conclusion, la thèse soutient que la réutilisation doit être reconnue comme faisant partie du modèle de population mérovingien plutôt que comme un phénomène. Enfin, cette thèse espère être un point de départ dans l'étude de la réutilisation mérovingienne dans la zone d'étude, et offrir un ouvrage de référence de la zone d'étude pour la poursuite des recherches nationales et internationales.

Das Roll-up gibt eine kurze, allgemein verständliche Einführung zu den beiden römischen Schiffswracks aus der Zeit um 100 n. Chr., die 1986 in Oberstimm (Markt Manching) entdeckt und 1994 vollständig geborgen wurden. Seit 2006 bilden die Wracks Highlights der Dauerausstellung im kelten römer museum manching. +++ Das Roll-up wurde im Rahmen des Kooperationsprojektes »Die Rückkehr des Römerschiffs« erstellt, an dem das kelten römer museum manching, die Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg und weitere Institutionen beteiligt waren. Im Juli und August 2018 begab sich ein 1:1-Nachbau des Oberstimmer Schiffswracks 2 entlang der Donau auf große Tour: die Fridericiana Alexandrina Navis (kurz F.A.N.). Sie bot interessierten Besuchern die einzigartige Gelegenheit, sich selbst in die Riemen zu legen und damit Geschichte hautnah zu erleben.

This paper focuses on an anonymous micro cult that flourishes in the Illyricum area during the Roman Imperial period. Known under the appellative Dominus et Domina, this divine couple is epigraphically attested by twelve votive inscriptions found solely in the Danubian provinces i.e. in Dacia, Moesia, Pannonia and Dalmatia. Because the spatial layout of the cult has provided the premises for claiming the autochthony of these gods, some scholars raised the possibility that they hide Dacian or other indigenous Illyrian divinities, powerful and dominant great gods whose names were prohibited to be pronounced. Based on an inscription engraved on a fragment of a terracotta mould discovered at Cristești (Mureș County), the cult of Dominus and Domina could be linked with the highly contradictive clay paredros type statuettes that have been discovered in several archaeological sites from Dacia. Having strong analogies in Moesia Inferior, the spatial distribution of both these votive terracotta figurines and inscriptions creates a pattern that enables us to grasp to its full extent the importance of these gods within the regional pantheon of Illyricum

Anlässlich des 15-jährigen Bestehens des kelten römer museums manching startete am 2. Juni 2021 das Quiz »Professor von Eulenschnurz – Jäger des verworrenen Quatsches«. Die Besucherinnen und Besucher hatten Gelgenheit, bis zum 12. September 2021 am humoristischen Suchspiel teilzunehmen. +++ Hintergrund war ein Besuch des fiktiven Professors von Eulenschnurz (Bayerische Fernuniversität Hintertupfing), der die Dauerausstellung des Manchinger Museums gehörig auf den Kopf stellte – mit wahnwitzigen Ergebnissen! Das Quiz präsentierte acht Eulenschnurzsche Theorien zu Funden der Kelten- und Römerzeit aus Manching und Oberstimm, von einer gut belegten Familienpizza bis hin zu einem abgefahrenen Muped-Lenker. Aufgabe der Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer war es, die beschriebenen Objekte im Museum zu finden und ihre tatsächlichen Funktionen zu erraten. +++ Das Suchspiel lag in Form eines liebevoll illustrierten Heftes vor und richtete sich an Menschen ab 10 Jahren. Zu gewinnen waren ökologisch und fair produzierte T-Shirts, Turnbeutel und Tragetaschen, auf denen die keltischen Achsnägel mit Raubvogelköpfen aus dem Oppidum von Manching abgebildet sind.

Das Erscheinen der Jahresschrift des Vereins zur Erforschung des Mostvier-
tels (VEMOG) im Jahr 2019 bietet die Gelegenheit, an einen verdienten Hei-
matforscher zu erinnern. Als Verein, der für sich in Anspruch nimmt, wesent-
liche Impulse für die lokalgeschichtliche Forschung zu setzen, gehört es sich,
Jahrestage verdienter Personen der Lokalgeschichtsforschung zu begehen
und an diese zu erinnern.

The paper is dedicated to a new beneficiary inscription from the Roman province of Dalmatia found in Kifino Selo, near Nevesinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska). It is executed on the front of a limestone altar with a widened and profiled base. The upper part is modelled in a similar way with a triangular gable with floral decoration and lateral acroteriae. The dedication to Jupiter the Best and the Greatest was offered by a Roman consular beneficiary (beneficiarii consularis) at the time of his active military service in the Legion I Adiutrix. The altar was probably erected in a temple, shrine or at a beneficiary station near the Roman road leading from Nevesinjsko polje towards Narona and the Adriatic coast to the south or northwest, in the depths of the provincial territory. Based on the paleographic and stylistic features, the inscription can be dated to the end of 2nd and the 3rd century AD.