Richard Reece (Roman archaeologist and numismatist) (original) (raw)
Roman Britain by Richard Reece (Roman archaeologist and numismatist)
This tries to investigate reasons for the failure of Roman Britain
An attempt to think what a Roman cemetery was like to the people around
The Shore Fort at Portchester, Hampshire, was founded at the end of the 3rd c and so gives a good... more The Shore Fort at Portchester, Hampshire, was founded at the end of the 3rd c and so gives a good idea of the coinage that was, and was not, in circulation in the 4th c.
The coins from the palace at Fishbourne and what they say about the site.
Different models of Roman Britain can be built from two archaeological studies, one on Colchester... more Different models of Roman Britain can be built from two archaeological studies, one on Colchester and one on Dorchester. They collide. Their collision can be understood by reference to their coins.
How does the Roman period influence later society and archaeology? The example of the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds, in western central Britain, form an area of agricultural production but the balanc... more The Cotswolds, in western central Britain, form an area of agricultural production but the balance between different forms of farming have changed over the centuries. The changes in the Roman period can be investigated, and those changes may help understanding of Roman rural archaeology on other areas
An attempt to trace a settlement such as a town from the Late Iron Age to the Reformation through... more An attempt to trace a settlement such as a town from the Late Iron Age to the Reformation through archaeology, with help from a wide gathering of archaeological information.
London seems to have been untypical throughout its existence. A non-place for most of prehistory,... more London seems to have been untypical throughout its existence. A non-place for most of prehistory, a non-civitas capital in the Roman period, an empty property in the early Saxon period, and then the royal ruling-place from thereon.
These three reviews give an idea of changes, and sometimes lack of change, in approaches to Roman... more These three reviews give an idea of changes, and sometimes lack of change, in approaches to Roman Britain as judged by four major texts published in 1981, 1989 and 1995. They are clearly written from a personal point of view, in reasonably polite language, for established journals.
The impact of Roman coinage on Britain is at once simple and complex. In summary it is possible ... more The impact of Roman coinage on Britain is at once simple and complex. In summary it is possible to cut through all the problems to say that before A.D. 43 there was probably Roman bullion in Britain, but no Roman coinage, while after 43 British coinage rapidly dropped out of monetary circulation. The impact is therefore the replacement of a native coinage by an Imperial coinage. ,
An account of a salvage excavation of part of the Roman cemetery of Cirencester with a full bone ... more An account of a salvage excavation of part of the Roman cemetery of Cirencester with a full bone report by Calvin Wells
The episode of Roman Britain is so well studied and so much taught that even mention of it in aca... more The episode of Roman Britain is so well studied and so much taught that even mention of it in academic circles is apt to raise groans of dismay. But it provides a very well-documented episode in the Roman Empire, and has the enviable status of a historical period, abundantly supported by material evidence. From the historical side the evidence is heavily biased in favour of the Imperialist conquerors and central administrators.
Three main changes in life on the Cotswolds in the late Iron Age, the end of the Roman period, an... more Three main changes in life on the Cotswolds in the late Iron Age, the end of the Roman period, and the High Middle Ages.
The use of models in the interpretation of Roman Britain is heavily inhibited by the pseudo-histo... more The use of models in the interpretation of Roman Britain is heavily inhibited by the pseudo-historical sources. Put in less inflammatory language, it is difficult to get other students to accept wide-ranging models of Roman Britain which build on material, without historical preconceptions, for the simple reason that Roman Britain is part of an Empire which is quite well served by written sources.
Since the publication of my original paper (Town and Country, the end of Roman Britain, World Arc... more Since the publication of my original paper (Town and Country, the end of Roman Britain, World Archaeology 12/1, 77-92,1980), some ideas on the town in Roman Britain seem to have lurched forward. I do not connect the two in any necessary way; it seems far more sensible to suggest that I was lucky to tune in to a new wave of ideas a little before many other excavators and commentators.
I think this was one of the more useful papers I have written because it made an early start in t... more I think this was one of the more useful papers I have written because it made an early start in the rethinking of the fifth century. When the paper was first written and presented to the conference the majority of workers in Roman Britain accepted a downturn at the end of the fourth century, but were determined to keep things going well into the fifth century. I reacted against that mainly on the basis of stratigraphy and finds.
In this paper I attempted to separate out the different strands from the study of the past. The c... more In this paper I attempted to separate out the different strands from the study of the past. The correct methods for the study of the material from the past are seen to be mainly numerical and stratigraphic. From these a firm sequence of past material can be built up. But just a sequence of material is hardly a satisfactory end to a study and I go on to encourage the building of myths by which to interpret past material.
It is quite easy to deal with the three separate elements in the title; it is more difficult to d... more It is quite easy to deal with the three separate elements in the title; it is more difficult to describe them together as a functioning system: but, if Roman Britain did ever function then the component parts did fit together and the attempt needs to be made to describe the whole.
Roman to Saxon: The Mobile Library Model. This paper provides a model for the transition from lat... more Roman to Saxon: The Mobile Library Model. This paper provides a model for the transition from later Roman Britain to Early England using the idea of the Mobile Library.
This tries to investigate reasons for the failure of Roman Britain
An attempt to think what a Roman cemetery was like to the people around
The Shore Fort at Portchester, Hampshire, was founded at the end of the 3rd c and so gives a good... more The Shore Fort at Portchester, Hampshire, was founded at the end of the 3rd c and so gives a good idea of the coinage that was, and was not, in circulation in the 4th c.
The coins from the palace at Fishbourne and what they say about the site.
Different models of Roman Britain can be built from two archaeological studies, one on Colchester... more Different models of Roman Britain can be built from two archaeological studies, one on Colchester and one on Dorchester. They collide. Their collision can be understood by reference to their coins.
How does the Roman period influence later society and archaeology? The example of the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds, in western central Britain, form an area of agricultural production but the balanc... more The Cotswolds, in western central Britain, form an area of agricultural production but the balance between different forms of farming have changed over the centuries. The changes in the Roman period can be investigated, and those changes may help understanding of Roman rural archaeology on other areas
An attempt to trace a settlement such as a town from the Late Iron Age to the Reformation through... more An attempt to trace a settlement such as a town from the Late Iron Age to the Reformation through archaeology, with help from a wide gathering of archaeological information.
London seems to have been untypical throughout its existence. A non-place for most of prehistory,... more London seems to have been untypical throughout its existence. A non-place for most of prehistory, a non-civitas capital in the Roman period, an empty property in the early Saxon period, and then the royal ruling-place from thereon.
These three reviews give an idea of changes, and sometimes lack of change, in approaches to Roman... more These three reviews give an idea of changes, and sometimes lack of change, in approaches to Roman Britain as judged by four major texts published in 1981, 1989 and 1995. They are clearly written from a personal point of view, in reasonably polite language, for established journals.
The impact of Roman coinage on Britain is at once simple and complex. In summary it is possible ... more The impact of Roman coinage on Britain is at once simple and complex. In summary it is possible to cut through all the problems to say that before A.D. 43 there was probably Roman bullion in Britain, but no Roman coinage, while after 43 British coinage rapidly dropped out of monetary circulation. The impact is therefore the replacement of a native coinage by an Imperial coinage. ,
An account of a salvage excavation of part of the Roman cemetery of Cirencester with a full bone ... more An account of a salvage excavation of part of the Roman cemetery of Cirencester with a full bone report by Calvin Wells
The episode of Roman Britain is so well studied and so much taught that even mention of it in aca... more The episode of Roman Britain is so well studied and so much taught that even mention of it in academic circles is apt to raise groans of dismay. But it provides a very well-documented episode in the Roman Empire, and has the enviable status of a historical period, abundantly supported by material evidence. From the historical side the evidence is heavily biased in favour of the Imperialist conquerors and central administrators.
Three main changes in life on the Cotswolds in the late Iron Age, the end of the Roman period, an... more Three main changes in life on the Cotswolds in the late Iron Age, the end of the Roman period, and the High Middle Ages.
The use of models in the interpretation of Roman Britain is heavily inhibited by the pseudo-histo... more The use of models in the interpretation of Roman Britain is heavily inhibited by the pseudo-historical sources. Put in less inflammatory language, it is difficult to get other students to accept wide-ranging models of Roman Britain which build on material, without historical preconceptions, for the simple reason that Roman Britain is part of an Empire which is quite well served by written sources.
Since the publication of my original paper (Town and Country, the end of Roman Britain, World Arc... more Since the publication of my original paper (Town and Country, the end of Roman Britain, World Archaeology 12/1, 77-92,1980), some ideas on the town in Roman Britain seem to have lurched forward. I do not connect the two in any necessary way; it seems far more sensible to suggest that I was lucky to tune in to a new wave of ideas a little before many other excavators and commentators.
I think this was one of the more useful papers I have written because it made an early start in t... more I think this was one of the more useful papers I have written because it made an early start in the rethinking of the fifth century. When the paper was first written and presented to the conference the majority of workers in Roman Britain accepted a downturn at the end of the fourth century, but were determined to keep things going well into the fifth century. I reacted against that mainly on the basis of stratigraphy and finds.
In this paper I attempted to separate out the different strands from the study of the past. The c... more In this paper I attempted to separate out the different strands from the study of the past. The correct methods for the study of the material from the past are seen to be mainly numerical and stratigraphic. From these a firm sequence of past material can be built up. But just a sequence of material is hardly a satisfactory end to a study and I go on to encourage the building of myths by which to interpret past material.
It is quite easy to deal with the three separate elements in the title; it is more difficult to d... more It is quite easy to deal with the three separate elements in the title; it is more difficult to describe them together as a functioning system: but, if Roman Britain did ever function then the component parts did fit together and the attempt needs to be made to describe the whole.
Roman to Saxon: The Mobile Library Model. This paper provides a model for the transition from lat... more Roman to Saxon: The Mobile Library Model. This paper provides a model for the transition from later Roman Britain to Early England using the idea of the Mobile Library.
S shaped strips were cut by a new street set out after c.1100 in what became the centre of mediev... more S shaped strips were cut by a new street set out after c.1100 in what became the centre of medieval Cirencester
In this survey of continuity I am concerned more to ask questions than to provide answers. The re... more In this survey of continuity I am concerned more to ask questions than to provide answers. The reason for this is the remarkably tangled state of present studies of the period and the processes which bridge the gap between the clearly defined Roman province of Britannia in the second century a.d. and the English Middle Ages up to the eleventh century. I assume that when a field of study consistently fails to provide reasonable answers to questions, it is the fault of the questions rather than the evidence available; hence my concern to spend time over the questions to be asked.
Abstract: these notes concern the plan and site of the Abbey, the passage of land tenure from the... more Abstract: these notes concern the plan and site of the Abbey, the passage of land tenure from the Church to the Chester Master family, and the first tenant Roger Basing
The barrow, as yet not firmly dated, lies outside the walls of Roman Corinium. This paper attem... more The barrow, as yet not firmly dated, lies outside the walls of Roman Corinium. This paper attempts to put on record the various mentions from the 13thC onwards
A summary of the work of J Gregory who followed his father as vicar with the texts of the letters... more A summary of the work of J Gregory who followed his father as vicar with the texts of the letters written by him to the Pious Robert Nelson
A Gregory was appointed by a very low church group, he survived inspection by Laud, lived through... more A Gregory was appointed by a very low church group, he survived inspection by Laud, lived through the Civil War, and survived safely into the Restoration.
The paper gives an account of John Jones (late 15th-c.-1513) and of the Trust he founded which co... more The paper gives an account of John Jones (late 15th-c.-1513) and of the Trust he founded which continues to the present day.
A study of the properties and tenants of the Lady Chapel of Cirencester Parish Church as in the r... more A study of the properties and tenants of the Lady Chapel of Cirencester Parish Church as in the register made in 1460
This paper gives the complete record of 1882 hedges walked in the area about 6 miles around Ciren... more This paper gives the complete record of 1882 hedges walked in the area about 6 miles around Cirencester, Glos.. The species for each hedge are listed and maps give the exact position of the numbered hedges
A first attempt to study how coins move by detailed examination and comparison of site-finds -- w... more A first attempt to study how coins move by detailed examination and comparison of site-finds -- with related spreadsheets.
Bulletin of the Inst. of Archaeology 18, 1981
Most of the paper is devoted to a list of the 56,000 coins from the Roman Shore Fort at Richborou... more Most of the paper is devoted to a list of the 56,000 coins from the Roman Shore Fort at Richborough (Kent)-in fact the Roman Gateway to Britain through a triumphal arch-which were brought together in the form of modern references for the first time in the 1970's and published in 1981. While this should form a sound basis for future research there are many points to add and tidy up and I hope that will soon follow in Richborough 3. My long term aim would be to compare the Richborough coins with a gathering of coin lists from Britain to provide an outline of 'normal' coin loss not just by periods as in the past but in much greater detail. The coins from any site could then be compared with such information in order to find abnormalities.
Copies of Radiate coins of the third century should not be given the same date as the coins they ... more Copies of Radiate coins of the third century should not be given the same date as the coins they copy
A discussion of the ways in which Roman coins may have communicated with their users.
An attempt to relate the coins of different periods one to another through the gold standard
This paper continues (and pa rtly repeats) the ideas in 'The Normal Hoard' by which any particula... more This paper continues (and pa rtly repeats) the ideas in 'The Normal Hoard' by which any particular hoard should be examined against a background of comparable hoards in order to extract the best information from it.
A method is suggested for distinguishing between typical hoards of Roman coins of a given period ... more A method is suggested for distinguishing between typical hoards of Roman coins of a given period and 'eccentric' hoards which may have important information on either their composition or reason and date of burial.
An attempt to summarise what has been published up to 1977 on the coin reforms of Aurelian and Di... more An attempt to summarise what has been published up to 1977 on the coin reforms of Aurelian and Diocletian and the use and interrelationship of gold and silver.
The third century AD is a time of major changes to the coinage and to the Roman Empire. This is... more The third century AD is a time of major changes to the coinage and to the Roman Empire. This is an attempt to set out some rules for the use of coin evidence whether as single finds or hoards to shed light on the period.
The 4thC pamphlet DRB is one of the few Roman documents which recognises the existence of coins a... more The 4thC pamphlet DRB is one of the few Roman documents which recognises the existence of coins and discusses both their production and circulation.
This is the enlarged text of a lecture to the RNS on coin finds, the powerpoint of which can be f... more This is the enlarged text of a lecture to the RNS on coin finds, the powerpoint of which can be found uploaded as What are coin finds.
The powerpoint of a lecture to the RNS which tried to summarise thoughts on site finds. A compa... more The powerpoint of a lecture to the RNS which tried to summarise thoughts on site finds. A companion piece of text with references entitled Rome, Jerusalem, Carthage, Cirencester gives the necessary details.
Results of a series of analyses of silver coins from the 1960's whose results agree quite closely... more Results of a series of analyses of silver coins from the 1960's whose results agree quite closely with more recent 'professional' results.
My idea was to base my study in coin hoards from Dacia, and to organise the material in a neat f... more My idea was to base my study in coin hoards from Dacia, and to organise the material in a neat form with simple conclusions.
A catalogue and discussion of 5,000 Roman coins from the centre of Rome.
Abstract. Coins provide source material for the study of the Later Empire explicitly from what i... more Abstract. Coins provide source material for the study of the Later Empire explicitly from what is written and portrayed on them, and the place and authority in which they were struck, and implicitly by the style of portrait and the choice of reverse type. The use and control of the metals makes a series of political points. Portraiture changed very sharply around the year 294 from individuality to the representation of authority. Reverse types in the later empire were much more limited and concentrated than the wide variety of representations in the earlier empire. The changes crystallised around 274 to 294, the date at which all city mints ceased local production. These are signs of a move towards a heavily centralised money supply dictated by more strongly emphasised authority. Control of metals, especially gold, followed the same path, though reforms in the middle of the fourth century may suggest that silver was let out of state control and 'privatised'.
Coins provide a source of information on the Roman economy which is not available in the written ... more Coins provide a source of information on the Roman economy which is not available in the written sources. They can be studied either as the products of the imperial administration—coins as struck, or as a reflection of coin use—coins as found. Coins as struck are well described in standard works of reference and only a few points of caution need to be added. Coins as found form an area of study that is in its early stages, and a rather basic general survey of the available information and methodology is needed. From these subjects a number of questions for further consideration can be framed.
An attempt to explain the difficulties of interpreting the full study of Roman coins
The distinction between just excavation and real archaeology
A Date is a specific day, or couple of days, according to a standard calendar. Bad. A Phase is a ... more A Date is a specific day, or couple of days, according to a standard calendar. Bad. A Phase is a stage in the archaeological development of a culture. Good. A high proportion of archaeological papers worry about dates. This is pointless, diverting and bad.
The non-existant history of Roman Cirencester. This paper is the reaction to discussion over writ... more The non-existant history of Roman Cirencester. This paper is the reaction to discussion over writing the history of Roman Cirencester. A history was wanted to compare with the medieval and modern history. This tries to explain why that cannot be done and tries also to make the general point about the difference between history and archaeology. Local detail will be unintelligible to non-local readers but I hope the general point will be appreciated. References are given at the end for those who wish to investigate further or explore the topography.
Coins, contexts and dating. Changes are happening in the use of coins in interpreting excavations... more Coins, contexts and dating. Changes are happening in the use of coins in interpreting excavations in the Mediterranean area. The idea that a coin in a context gives a firm date for that context is slowly fading and excavators and interpreters now realise that matters are more complicated than that.
There seems to be a dislocation between the Theory and the Practice of Roman Archaeology. The m... more There seems to be a dislocation between the Theory and the Practice of Roman Archaeology. The missing link needs attention.
The spread of Roman coinage often goes ahead of the extensions of the empire though the two are n... more The spread of Roman coinage often goes ahead of the extensions of the empire though the two are not always exactly the same. Presumably the coinage reflects influence whereas the imperial limits reflect actual possession.
Archaeology is mainly interested in excavated sites and artefacts. But there are several period... more Archaeology is mainly interested in excavated sites and artefacts. But there are several periods in the first millennium when smaller societies flourished without leaving major monuments, sites or surviving artefacts.
Thoughts on the excavation, publication and interpretation of Roman burials.
It is excellent to read an article which insists that archaeological thought ought to be accessib... more It is excellent to read an article which insists that archaeological thought ought to be accessible to the interested inquirer, but there are two limits which I would like to suggest to this. No research, or idea, or enquiry, ought to be limited by what the public can grasp immediately at that moment; and we have to come to terms with the fact that many ideas can only be grasped when their basic material is at least widely known about.
In general, a really good book ought to have a long and detailed review. In particular, when face... more In general, a really good book ought to have a long and detailed review. In particular, when faced with Gallia Belgica. there are a limited number of ways of saying that a book is brilliant, and the repetition of superlatives becomes tedious. I will take a chance on the next four years and nominate this as my 'book of the decade'.
The mosaic discovered in 1963 with a chi-ro behind a male portrait caused much speculation. The... more The mosaic discovered in 1963 with a chi-ro behind a male portrait caused much speculation. The short piece is simply a suggestion for a date from comparison with coin portraits.
Coins can assist in the study of religious changes in the 4th c in two ways; from the choices o... more Coins can assist in the study of religious changes in the 4th c in two ways; from the choices of reverse types at different dates and from the variation in coin finds on religious sites.
An attack on the delusion of using dates in Roman Archaeology
The concentration of the Roman army on the frontiers has an effect on the supply and loss of coins.
The idea of reviewing these four books together was as follows. Randsborg, always strong on mater... more The idea of reviewing these four books together was as follows. Randsborg, always strong on material and ideas, would give guidelines by which to study the millennium. City and country in the Ancient World would cover the whole area under discussion from the last centuries BC to the third century AD. Then, when East and West go their separate ways, Sardis would cover the East, high on facts but low on ideas, and Hodges and the Anglo-Saxons would stand for the West, high on ideas and low on facts.
A discussion of what seems to be the almost perfect report on the excavation of a Roman cemetery
A reactionary diatribe on archaeological theory.
A diatribe on problems caused by excavation
Abstract: an individual essay on excavation, recording and pu blication of archaeological sites s... more Abstract: an individual essay on excavation, recording and pu blication of archaeological sites starting from the problems of Roman London in the 1970's and 1980's which have thankfully been resolved in the work of today.
An attempt to sort out some of the problems which arise in trying to attribute status and origin ... more An attempt to sort out some of the problems which arise in trying to attribute status and origin to people buried in the Later Roman Empire
Richard Reece-other publications. A summary of my other main publications most of which are not o... more Richard Reece-other publications. A summary of my other main publications most of which are not on academia, with short discussion.