Andrew W Lamb | University of Leicester (original) (raw)
Papers by Andrew W Lamb
Berichte zur Archäologie in Rheinhessen und Umgebung, 2021
This paper considers an Iron Age object discovered in the vicinity of Ober-Olm, Rhineland-Palatin... more This paper considers an Iron Age object discovered in the vicinity of Ober-Olm, Rhineland-Palatinate. The artefact has been part of the Landesmuseum Mainz collections for over a century, but until now it has not been examined in detail. The object is a decorative horse fitting, likely attached to the headcollar or browband. Based on stylistic parallels it is proposed that this object was produced in Britain in the 1st century AD. It seems likely that the artefact arrived in Rhineland-Pfalz as a result of Roman troop movements. On the basis of the archaeological and epigraphical evidence for British migrants living in the province of Germania Superior in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, it is proposed that the object was brought to Ober-Olm by British auxiliary cavalry.
The Journal of Irish Archaeology, 2022
Drawing on new finds and discussions of Continental La Tène artefacts, this paper argues that sev... more Drawing on new finds and discussions of Continental La Tène artefacts, this paper argues that several Irish Iron Age objects previously identified as spearbutts may, in fact, have been components of horse tack, specifically bits. It has long been noted that horse riding was an important aspect of Irish Iron Age society, and horse tack is the best represented
group of metal artefacts known from the Irish Iron Age. This proposed identification further increases the number of items associated with horse riding from the Irish Iron Age and compliments the current evidence for pre-Roman Iron Age contacts between Ireland and Continental Europe.
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 2022
The past four decades have been a time of great activity for researchers examining the Iron Age i... more The past four decades have been a time of great activity for researchers examining the Iron Age in northwest Europe. Since the 1980s, the scale of archaeological fieldwork has expanded massively and, with it, the quantity of data available to study. Iron Age mortuary data have been one of the main beneficiaries of this. Britain is no exception to this trend, with a number of important discoveries made over the years, thereby improving our understanding of mortuary practices during this period. The situation is comparable for the regions which immediately border Britain: Ireland, northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This paper reviews the current state of research for this part of Europe, contextualising the Iron Age British data within the broader northwest European frame of these neighbouring regions. In so doing, a better understanding of how chronological developments in the British mortuary data relate to those elsewhere is possible. Additionally, these data may inform us of other aspects of past societies, such as population mobility, social structure, and the persistence of ritual practices over time.
Axes fluviaux et territoires à l'âge du Fer. Actes du 44e coll. AFEAF, Lyon 2020, 2022
Carrara, S. and Bonaventure, B (eds). Axes fluviaux et territoires à l'âge du Fer, 293-297. Act... more Carrara, S. and Bonaventure, B (eds). Axes fluviaux et territoires à l'âge du Fer, 293-297. Actes du 44e coll. AFEAF, Lyon 2020.
IV e Rencontres doctorales de l'École européenne de Protohistoire de Bibracte, 2021
In later pre-Roman Iron Age Britain (c. 500 a.C./43 p.C) people used a variety of items to secure... more In later pre-Roman Iron Age Britain (c. 500 a.C./43 p.C) people used a variety of items to secure their clothing. The most frequently recorded examples in the archaeological record are various pins and brooches, which display chronological and regional variations in terms of frequency, typology and potentially use. Some of these objects belong to long-established insular traditions, whilst others are more similar to types employed on the continent. The best clues to their use can be found in the increasing number of graves recorded for this period. The ways in which these dress fasteners were positioned within graves suggest that different later Iron Age communities sought to present the corpse in different ways. These approaches to depicting the dead would have
been important in terms of how the deceased were remembered and who was permitted to view them.
Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 2020
In 1802 a farm worker in the parish of Cliviger, Burnley, Lancashire discovered a precious metal ... more In 1802 a farm worker in the parish of Cliviger, Burnley, Lancashire discovered a precious metal torc whilst ploughing. He alerted the owner of the land, the vicar Thomas Whitaker, to his discovery. Whitaker correctly identified the torc as dating to the Iron Age and subsequently described its discovery when he later wrote a history of his parish. The torc ultimately came to be acquired by Manchester Museum, where it remains to this day. Like many prehistoric artefacts discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries, it remained unpublished. This is despite the fact that Iron Age artefacts are comparatively rare in north-west England, whilst torcs are an infrequently recorded class of objects for Iron Age Britain in general. Furthermore, the Burnley torc is not, typologically speaking, a local object. Instead, it belongs to a group of torcs whose origins lie in south-eastern Britain, but are increasingly attested elsewhere in the island. This paper sets out to describe the Burnley torc, and in doing so, contextualise it within its broader regional and national frame.
Archaeologia Cantiana, 2020
This paper discusses a distinctive group of pre-Roman Iron Age (PRIA, c.800 BC - AD 43) burials f... more This paper discusses a distinctive group of pre-Roman Iron Age (PRIA, c.800 BC - AD 43) burials from Kent. The first examples of these burials were identified during excavations undertaken by the Dover Archaeological Group (DAG) at Mill Hill, Deal starting in 1984 (Parfitt 1995). Since then, the number of known examples has more than tripled. These burials are significant for several reasons. Firstly, they contribute to the growing evidence for formalised burial practices in PRIA Britain, something for which there has been limited evidence for much of the previous two centuries. Secondly, the distinctive arrangement of these burials, with the bodies positioned supine and extended, contrasts with the more common British practice of positioning burials in crouched positions on their sides. Instead, such positioning finds its closest
parallels in early La Tène (c.475-300 BC ) burials from northern France.
Indeed, artefactual evidence supports the idea that the rite was inspired by Continental contacts. These two characteristics therefore make this type of burial a distinctive and important group which warrant further study. This paper seeks to provide a preliminary archaeological definition of these burials in the light of the new evidence which has emerged as a result of fieldwork in the county over the last three decades. Following standard archaeological conventions, the burials discussed in this paper are named after the site where they were first identified; Mill Hill, Deal. There are several places named ‘Mill Hill’ in Britain. By contrast, Deal is synonymous with Kent, and thus helps to highlight to regionally specific nature of this group. As such, these inhumations are here referred to as Deal-type burials.
Norfolk Archaeology, 2020
In 2015, metal detecting in the parish of Scarning, Breckland, uncovered a bovine-shaped mount of... more In 2015, metal detecting in the parish of Scarning, Breckland, uncovered a bovine-shaped mount of Iron Age date. Several parallels for such mounts are known from elsewhere in southern Britain. However, it is the artistic style of this mount which makes it distinct. The authors argue that it represents a rare example of the plastic style of La Tène art; a style which is well attested on the continent, but for which only a few examples are known from Britain. The object raises questions about the nature of contacts between Norfolk and the continent during this period, and contributes to the small, but growing, dataset of plastic style objects from Britain.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 2019
This paper examines the evidence for La Tène anthropomorphic artwork in the pre-Roman British Iro... more This paper examines the evidence for La Tène anthropomorphic artwork in the pre-Roman British Iron Age. The available dataset for such objects displays a marked contrast, with only a handful of examples known for the period preceding the later 2 nd century BC, and a comparative abundance for the final two centuries before the Roman conquest. Although various influences may have contributed to this pattern, it is likely that this pattern is the result of changing self-percep-tions among Iron Age populations in Britain. Such changes are known from elsewhere in the ethnographic literature, and such accounts may serve as a guide to interpreting the changing pattern for La Tène anthropomorphic art in Britain
Later Prehistoric Finds Group Newsletter, 2019
In 1892 quarry workers at Mountsorrel, Leicestershire uncovered a well containing animal bones, R... more In 1892 quarry workers at Mountsorrel, Leicestershire uncovered a well containing animal bones, Romano-British ceramics and a metal plated wooden bucket (Fig. 1). Despite the less than favourable circumstances surrounding its discovery, the bucket was promptly published and described in some detail (von Hugel 1894). In contrast to the famed Aylesford bucket, discovered only six years prior (Evans 1890), the Mountsorrel example received limited attention. The only substantial discussion of it, apart from von Hugel’s, was C.F.C. Hawkes (1951). He described it as a “treasure” whose “barbaric symbol-portrait has outlasted its measure of Romanization” (ibid., 197). In this respect Hawkes was right. In the 70 years since Hawkes wrote those words, and the Mountsorrel bucket was last examined in any detail, the dataset within which we can contextualise this object has grown substantially.
Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 2018
This paper examines the evidence available for a distinct form of burial in Iron Age Europe, of w... more This paper examines the evidence available for a distinct form of burial in Iron Age Europe, of which an increasing number of examples are known: seated inhumations. These inhumations have long been recognized on the continent; however, recent excavations, revealing specific details surrounding individual burials, have enriched our understanding of them. Moreover, new discoveries, combined with a review of the published literature, suggest that the rite was also practised in Britain. This paper highlights the particular characteristics observed in such burials, explores their possible social role, and considers how such burials may fit into the ever-expanding mortuary dataset for the pre-Roman La Tène period (c.500-20 BC / AD 43).
ΕΥΔΑΙΜΩΝ Studies in Honour of Jan Bouzek. Peter Pavúk – Věra Klontza‑Jaklová – Anthony Harding (eds), 2018
This paper considers the role of later prehistoric population exchange between Britain and the co... more This paper considers the role of later prehistoric population exchange between
Britain and the continent by examining the archaeological discourse and evidence
which surrounds one group of historically attested migrants; the Belgae. In doing
so, it discusses the varying popularity which migration theory has enjoyed within
British archaeology, current evidence for this migration, and how considering
groups like the Belgae may aid us in contextualising British archaeology against
the broader backdrop of continental European archaeology.
Reflections of Roman Imperialisms, 2018
Lamb, A. 2018. The curious case of the Iceni and their relationship with Rome. in Janković, M.A. ... more Lamb, A. 2018. The curious case of the Iceni and their relationship with Rome. in Janković, M.A. and Mihajlović , V.D. (eds). Reflections of Roman
Imperialisms. Cambridge Scholars Publishing: Newcastle-upon-Tyne. p106-127
Chronika, Jul 2016
This paper examines the archaeological evidence which exists for the increased visibility of the ... more This paper examines the archaeological evidence which exists for the increased visibility of the individual in Late Iron Age (c.150 B.C.E-43 C.E.) southern Britain, in contrast to the preceding Middle Iron Age (c.500/450-150 B.C.E). Using mortuary data from sixty sites in southern Britain, it demonstrates how, at the beginning of the Late Iron Age, there was an increased emphasis on individual identity. This change can be detected through the emergence of archaeologically visible mortuary rites, as well as new forms of material culture recovered from domestic and mortuary contexts. This abundance of new artefact types includes personal adornment and toilet equipment, and appears to reflect an increased emphasis on individual, as opposed to communal, identity. This period also sees the emergence of elite dynasts who supplanted the earlier, egalitarian leadership. Contextualised within the broader world of Late Iron Age Atlantic Europe, we observe that the communities of southern Britain were not alone in seeking to emphasise individual identities. Comparable developments in mortuary rites are observed in Ireland and Atlantic Scotland, as well as the appearance of metalwork and sculpture in Britain, Brittany and North West Iberia which depicts human form.
This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Dr... more This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Draa Project (southern Morocco), a collaborative field survey project between the University of Leicester and the Institut National des Sciences de l' Archéologie et du Patrimoine (INSAP) of Morocco. Starting from a very low baseline of past archaeological research in this pre-desert valley, the overall objective of the project is to establish the extent, character and chronology of the rich archaeology of the Wadi Draa. The results presented here detail a hitherto unknown phase of major occupation in the Draa in the 4th-6th centuries AD evidenced by complex hilltop settlements and extensive cairn cemeteries (an initial typology is presented). A second medieval phase comprised major urban centres that are contemporary with the Almoravid and Almohad periods of Moroccan history. Alongside these urban centres, there are the remains of substantial mudbrick oasis settlements and irrigation and field-systems of a contemporary date. A key contribution of this paper concerns the construction of an outline chronology based upon initial analysis of the ceramics collected , but crucially supplemented and supported by a major program of AMS dating. The remote sensing and field survey data collected by the project enable us to develop some hypotheses concerning the long-term history of this important oasis valley. Keywords Protohistory – Islamic archaeology – landscape archaeology – radiocarbon dating – irrigation
Magazines and Popular Literature by Andrew W Lamb
Frontier Magazine, 2016
University of Leicester post-graduate magazine article discussing my PhD research into Later Iron... more University of Leicester post-graduate magazine article discussing my PhD research into Later Iron Age mortuary rites in southern Britain.
PhD Thesis by Andrew W Lamb
This thesis examines the parts played by human remains in communities during the Later Iron Age, ... more This thesis examines the parts played by human remains in communities during the Later Iron Age, and how these roles changed over time. Through careful consideration of the available evidence, and by employing a new, composite theoretical model, this thesis will reframe Iron Age burial practises, by relating changes in mortuary rites to developments in the social and political organisation of societies in Britain and on the continent. To achieve this, it examines mortuary data from communities living in Later Iron Age southern Britain (c.500BC-c.AD70): the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Sussex and Kent. Within this region, the dead were treated in a variety of ways in different locations and at different periods. Noted temporal changes to mortuary rites coinside with observable changes in the wider archaeological record, indicating that changes in such rites were part of wider sociopolitical developments. Besides marked developments over time and intra-regional heterogeneity, this data, at times, displays clear parallels to contemporary practices elsewhere in Britain and the near continent. This study considers the social and political role played by human remains during times of change. In doing so, it contextualises these rites within the broader British and near continental world. Taken together it suggests that mortuary practices were an integral part of Iron Age living, an important resource for structural cohesion, and one which was in part affected by changes elsewhere.
Book and Conference Reviews by Andrew W Lamb
Later Prehistoric Finds Group Newsletter, 2020
Review of Nimura et al. 2019. Art in the Eurasian Iron Age: Context, Connections and Scale. Oxbow... more Review of Nimura et al. 2019. Art in the Eurasian Iron Age: Context, Connections and Scale. Oxbow Books 2019. 256 p. ISBN: 1789253942
Later Prehistoric Finds Group Newsletter, 2020
A review of Hunter, F. 2019. The carnyx in Iron Age Europe: the Deskford carnyx in its European C... more A review of Hunter, F. 2019. The carnyx in Iron Age Europe: the Deskford carnyx in its European Context.
Britannia, 2019
Book review of D. Stewart and M. Russell (2017) Hillforts and the Durotriges: A Geophysical Surve... more Book review of D. Stewart and M. Russell (2017) Hillforts and the Durotriges: A Geophysical Survey of Iron Age Dorset. Archaeopress: Oxford
Berichte zur Archäologie in Rheinhessen und Umgebung, 2021
This paper considers an Iron Age object discovered in the vicinity of Ober-Olm, Rhineland-Palatin... more This paper considers an Iron Age object discovered in the vicinity of Ober-Olm, Rhineland-Palatinate. The artefact has been part of the Landesmuseum Mainz collections for over a century, but until now it has not been examined in detail. The object is a decorative horse fitting, likely attached to the headcollar or browband. Based on stylistic parallels it is proposed that this object was produced in Britain in the 1st century AD. It seems likely that the artefact arrived in Rhineland-Pfalz as a result of Roman troop movements. On the basis of the archaeological and epigraphical evidence for British migrants living in the province of Germania Superior in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, it is proposed that the object was brought to Ober-Olm by British auxiliary cavalry.
The Journal of Irish Archaeology, 2022
Drawing on new finds and discussions of Continental La Tène artefacts, this paper argues that sev... more Drawing on new finds and discussions of Continental La Tène artefacts, this paper argues that several Irish Iron Age objects previously identified as spearbutts may, in fact, have been components of horse tack, specifically bits. It has long been noted that horse riding was an important aspect of Irish Iron Age society, and horse tack is the best represented
group of metal artefacts known from the Irish Iron Age. This proposed identification further increases the number of items associated with horse riding from the Irish Iron Age and compliments the current evidence for pre-Roman Iron Age contacts between Ireland and Continental Europe.
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 2022
The past four decades have been a time of great activity for researchers examining the Iron Age i... more The past four decades have been a time of great activity for researchers examining the Iron Age in northwest Europe. Since the 1980s, the scale of archaeological fieldwork has expanded massively and, with it, the quantity of data available to study. Iron Age mortuary data have been one of the main beneficiaries of this. Britain is no exception to this trend, with a number of important discoveries made over the years, thereby improving our understanding of mortuary practices during this period. The situation is comparable for the regions which immediately border Britain: Ireland, northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This paper reviews the current state of research for this part of Europe, contextualising the Iron Age British data within the broader northwest European frame of these neighbouring regions. In so doing, a better understanding of how chronological developments in the British mortuary data relate to those elsewhere is possible. Additionally, these data may inform us of other aspects of past societies, such as population mobility, social structure, and the persistence of ritual practices over time.
Axes fluviaux et territoires à l'âge du Fer. Actes du 44e coll. AFEAF, Lyon 2020, 2022
Carrara, S. and Bonaventure, B (eds). Axes fluviaux et territoires à l'âge du Fer, 293-297. Act... more Carrara, S. and Bonaventure, B (eds). Axes fluviaux et territoires à l'âge du Fer, 293-297. Actes du 44e coll. AFEAF, Lyon 2020.
IV e Rencontres doctorales de l'École européenne de Protohistoire de Bibracte, 2021
In later pre-Roman Iron Age Britain (c. 500 a.C./43 p.C) people used a variety of items to secure... more In later pre-Roman Iron Age Britain (c. 500 a.C./43 p.C) people used a variety of items to secure their clothing. The most frequently recorded examples in the archaeological record are various pins and brooches, which display chronological and regional variations in terms of frequency, typology and potentially use. Some of these objects belong to long-established insular traditions, whilst others are more similar to types employed on the continent. The best clues to their use can be found in the increasing number of graves recorded for this period. The ways in which these dress fasteners were positioned within graves suggest that different later Iron Age communities sought to present the corpse in different ways. These approaches to depicting the dead would have
been important in terms of how the deceased were remembered and who was permitted to view them.
Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 2020
In 1802 a farm worker in the parish of Cliviger, Burnley, Lancashire discovered a precious metal ... more In 1802 a farm worker in the parish of Cliviger, Burnley, Lancashire discovered a precious metal torc whilst ploughing. He alerted the owner of the land, the vicar Thomas Whitaker, to his discovery. Whitaker correctly identified the torc as dating to the Iron Age and subsequently described its discovery when he later wrote a history of his parish. The torc ultimately came to be acquired by Manchester Museum, where it remains to this day. Like many prehistoric artefacts discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries, it remained unpublished. This is despite the fact that Iron Age artefacts are comparatively rare in north-west England, whilst torcs are an infrequently recorded class of objects for Iron Age Britain in general. Furthermore, the Burnley torc is not, typologically speaking, a local object. Instead, it belongs to a group of torcs whose origins lie in south-eastern Britain, but are increasingly attested elsewhere in the island. This paper sets out to describe the Burnley torc, and in doing so, contextualise it within its broader regional and national frame.
Archaeologia Cantiana, 2020
This paper discusses a distinctive group of pre-Roman Iron Age (PRIA, c.800 BC - AD 43) burials f... more This paper discusses a distinctive group of pre-Roman Iron Age (PRIA, c.800 BC - AD 43) burials from Kent. The first examples of these burials were identified during excavations undertaken by the Dover Archaeological Group (DAG) at Mill Hill, Deal starting in 1984 (Parfitt 1995). Since then, the number of known examples has more than tripled. These burials are significant for several reasons. Firstly, they contribute to the growing evidence for formalised burial practices in PRIA Britain, something for which there has been limited evidence for much of the previous two centuries. Secondly, the distinctive arrangement of these burials, with the bodies positioned supine and extended, contrasts with the more common British practice of positioning burials in crouched positions on their sides. Instead, such positioning finds its closest
parallels in early La Tène (c.475-300 BC ) burials from northern France.
Indeed, artefactual evidence supports the idea that the rite was inspired by Continental contacts. These two characteristics therefore make this type of burial a distinctive and important group which warrant further study. This paper seeks to provide a preliminary archaeological definition of these burials in the light of the new evidence which has emerged as a result of fieldwork in the county over the last three decades. Following standard archaeological conventions, the burials discussed in this paper are named after the site where they were first identified; Mill Hill, Deal. There are several places named ‘Mill Hill’ in Britain. By contrast, Deal is synonymous with Kent, and thus helps to highlight to regionally specific nature of this group. As such, these inhumations are here referred to as Deal-type burials.
Norfolk Archaeology, 2020
In 2015, metal detecting in the parish of Scarning, Breckland, uncovered a bovine-shaped mount of... more In 2015, metal detecting in the parish of Scarning, Breckland, uncovered a bovine-shaped mount of Iron Age date. Several parallels for such mounts are known from elsewhere in southern Britain. However, it is the artistic style of this mount which makes it distinct. The authors argue that it represents a rare example of the plastic style of La Tène art; a style which is well attested on the continent, but for which only a few examples are known from Britain. The object raises questions about the nature of contacts between Norfolk and the continent during this period, and contributes to the small, but growing, dataset of plastic style objects from Britain.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 2019
This paper examines the evidence for La Tène anthropomorphic artwork in the pre-Roman British Iro... more This paper examines the evidence for La Tène anthropomorphic artwork in the pre-Roman British Iron Age. The available dataset for such objects displays a marked contrast, with only a handful of examples known for the period preceding the later 2 nd century BC, and a comparative abundance for the final two centuries before the Roman conquest. Although various influences may have contributed to this pattern, it is likely that this pattern is the result of changing self-percep-tions among Iron Age populations in Britain. Such changes are known from elsewhere in the ethnographic literature, and such accounts may serve as a guide to interpreting the changing pattern for La Tène anthropomorphic art in Britain
Later Prehistoric Finds Group Newsletter, 2019
In 1892 quarry workers at Mountsorrel, Leicestershire uncovered a well containing animal bones, R... more In 1892 quarry workers at Mountsorrel, Leicestershire uncovered a well containing animal bones, Romano-British ceramics and a metal plated wooden bucket (Fig. 1). Despite the less than favourable circumstances surrounding its discovery, the bucket was promptly published and described in some detail (von Hugel 1894). In contrast to the famed Aylesford bucket, discovered only six years prior (Evans 1890), the Mountsorrel example received limited attention. The only substantial discussion of it, apart from von Hugel’s, was C.F.C. Hawkes (1951). He described it as a “treasure” whose “barbaric symbol-portrait has outlasted its measure of Romanization” (ibid., 197). In this respect Hawkes was right. In the 70 years since Hawkes wrote those words, and the Mountsorrel bucket was last examined in any detail, the dataset within which we can contextualise this object has grown substantially.
Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 2018
This paper examines the evidence available for a distinct form of burial in Iron Age Europe, of w... more This paper examines the evidence available for a distinct form of burial in Iron Age Europe, of which an increasing number of examples are known: seated inhumations. These inhumations have long been recognized on the continent; however, recent excavations, revealing specific details surrounding individual burials, have enriched our understanding of them. Moreover, new discoveries, combined with a review of the published literature, suggest that the rite was also practised in Britain. This paper highlights the particular characteristics observed in such burials, explores their possible social role, and considers how such burials may fit into the ever-expanding mortuary dataset for the pre-Roman La Tène period (c.500-20 BC / AD 43).
ΕΥΔΑΙΜΩΝ Studies in Honour of Jan Bouzek. Peter Pavúk – Věra Klontza‑Jaklová – Anthony Harding (eds), 2018
This paper considers the role of later prehistoric population exchange between Britain and the co... more This paper considers the role of later prehistoric population exchange between
Britain and the continent by examining the archaeological discourse and evidence
which surrounds one group of historically attested migrants; the Belgae. In doing
so, it discusses the varying popularity which migration theory has enjoyed within
British archaeology, current evidence for this migration, and how considering
groups like the Belgae may aid us in contextualising British archaeology against
the broader backdrop of continental European archaeology.
Reflections of Roman Imperialisms, 2018
Lamb, A. 2018. The curious case of the Iceni and their relationship with Rome. in Janković, M.A. ... more Lamb, A. 2018. The curious case of the Iceni and their relationship with Rome. in Janković, M.A. and Mihajlović , V.D. (eds). Reflections of Roman
Imperialisms. Cambridge Scholars Publishing: Newcastle-upon-Tyne. p106-127
Chronika, Jul 2016
This paper examines the archaeological evidence which exists for the increased visibility of the ... more This paper examines the archaeological evidence which exists for the increased visibility of the individual in Late Iron Age (c.150 B.C.E-43 C.E.) southern Britain, in contrast to the preceding Middle Iron Age (c.500/450-150 B.C.E). Using mortuary data from sixty sites in southern Britain, it demonstrates how, at the beginning of the Late Iron Age, there was an increased emphasis on individual identity. This change can be detected through the emergence of archaeologically visible mortuary rites, as well as new forms of material culture recovered from domestic and mortuary contexts. This abundance of new artefact types includes personal adornment and toilet equipment, and appears to reflect an increased emphasis on individual, as opposed to communal, identity. This period also sees the emergence of elite dynasts who supplanted the earlier, egalitarian leadership. Contextualised within the broader world of Late Iron Age Atlantic Europe, we observe that the communities of southern Britain were not alone in seeking to emphasise individual identities. Comparable developments in mortuary rites are observed in Ireland and Atlantic Scotland, as well as the appearance of metalwork and sculpture in Britain, Brittany and North West Iberia which depicts human form.
This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Dr... more This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Draa Project (southern Morocco), a collaborative field survey project between the University of Leicester and the Institut National des Sciences de l' Archéologie et du Patrimoine (INSAP) of Morocco. Starting from a very low baseline of past archaeological research in this pre-desert valley, the overall objective of the project is to establish the extent, character and chronology of the rich archaeology of the Wadi Draa. The results presented here detail a hitherto unknown phase of major occupation in the Draa in the 4th-6th centuries AD evidenced by complex hilltop settlements and extensive cairn cemeteries (an initial typology is presented). A second medieval phase comprised major urban centres that are contemporary with the Almoravid and Almohad periods of Moroccan history. Alongside these urban centres, there are the remains of substantial mudbrick oasis settlements and irrigation and field-systems of a contemporary date. A key contribution of this paper concerns the construction of an outline chronology based upon initial analysis of the ceramics collected , but crucially supplemented and supported by a major program of AMS dating. The remote sensing and field survey data collected by the project enable us to develop some hypotheses concerning the long-term history of this important oasis valley. Keywords Protohistory – Islamic archaeology – landscape archaeology – radiocarbon dating – irrigation
Frontier Magazine, 2016
University of Leicester post-graduate magazine article discussing my PhD research into Later Iron... more University of Leicester post-graduate magazine article discussing my PhD research into Later Iron Age mortuary rites in southern Britain.
This thesis examines the parts played by human remains in communities during the Later Iron Age, ... more This thesis examines the parts played by human remains in communities during the Later Iron Age, and how these roles changed over time. Through careful consideration of the available evidence, and by employing a new, composite theoretical model, this thesis will reframe Iron Age burial practises, by relating changes in mortuary rites to developments in the social and political organisation of societies in Britain and on the continent. To achieve this, it examines mortuary data from communities living in Later Iron Age southern Britain (c.500BC-c.AD70): the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Sussex and Kent. Within this region, the dead were treated in a variety of ways in different locations and at different periods. Noted temporal changes to mortuary rites coinside with observable changes in the wider archaeological record, indicating that changes in such rites were part of wider sociopolitical developments. Besides marked developments over time and intra-regional heterogeneity, this data, at times, displays clear parallels to contemporary practices elsewhere in Britain and the near continent. This study considers the social and political role played by human remains during times of change. In doing so, it contextualises these rites within the broader British and near continental world. Taken together it suggests that mortuary practices were an integral part of Iron Age living, an important resource for structural cohesion, and one which was in part affected by changes elsewhere.
Later Prehistoric Finds Group Newsletter, 2020
Review of Nimura et al. 2019. Art in the Eurasian Iron Age: Context, Connections and Scale. Oxbow... more Review of Nimura et al. 2019. Art in the Eurasian Iron Age: Context, Connections and Scale. Oxbow Books 2019. 256 p. ISBN: 1789253942
Later Prehistoric Finds Group Newsletter, 2020
A review of Hunter, F. 2019. The carnyx in Iron Age Europe: the Deskford carnyx in its European C... more A review of Hunter, F. 2019. The carnyx in Iron Age Europe: the Deskford carnyx in its European Context.
Britannia, 2019
Book review of D. Stewart and M. Russell (2017) Hillforts and the Durotriges: A Geophysical Surve... more Book review of D. Stewart and M. Russell (2017) Hillforts and the Durotriges: A Geophysical Survey of Iron Age Dorset. Archaeopress: Oxford
by Jane Fyfe, Tim Forssman, Rob Rownd, Dylan S Davis, Devin L Ward, Michael B C Rivera, Rebekah Hawkins, Andrew W Lamb, Hannah Ryan, Rhiannon C Stammers, Kate Rose, Jacqueline Jordaan, Amelia W. Eichengreen, Gonzalo Linares Matás, Sarah Scoppie, Rachel Wilkinson, Dámaris López, Alba Menéndez Pereda, Milosz Klosowski, Oluseyi O Agbelusi, Fabio Saccoccio, Jennifer Bates, Richard Takkou, Claire Maass, IJSRA Journal, and Gabrielle Thiboutot
Christmas and other festivities associated with the winter solstice are a wonderful opportunity t... more Christmas and other festivities associated with the winter solstice are a wonderful opportunity to imagine changes.
At IJSRA, we work everyday on a voluntary basis to transform the academic publishing landscape, in our firm belief that authors should not have to pay for publishing, and that making research freely available to a global readership help address growing (academic) inequalities worldwide.
We aim to make an impact through an independent, unaffiliated, open-access student forum, without any submission, publication, or subscription fees.
Therefore, what better time to publish our second issue that in this merry Christmas Eve. We have an amazing variety of contents, including original fieldwork in Botswana, a model for undergraduate skills development, Indo-Greek coinage, heritage legislation in the Philippines, medieval perceptions and attitudes to health, a reassessment of Natufian sedentism, a Big Data cross-cultural analysis, a book review, and reviews of many conferences! We hope you enjoy reading these outstanding examples of student scholarship!
We are now accepting submissions for our third issues; we will be reviewing manuscripts on a rolling basis, so submit when you're ready! Recommended deadline: March 15th
As part of our constant efforts to reach as wide an audience as possible, we are always looking for people with diverse research interests to join our growing international team. If you are committed to improve the presence of excellent student scholarship in archaeology, please do get in touch!
The Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, 2018
Lamb, A. 2018. Book Review: Sean Campbell, Hill-Forts of the Cotswolds (Stroud, Amberley Publ... more Lamb, A. 2018. Book Review: Sean Campbell, Hill-Forts of the Cotswolds (Stroud, Amberley Publishing 2016). in The Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society 82: 6
Cher(e)s collègues, Cet avec plaisir que nous annonçons, en collaboration avec l’université de Bi... more Cher(e)s collègues,
Cet avec plaisir que nous annonçons, en collaboration avec l’université de Birmingham et l’université de Nottingham, le XIXème congrès sur l’âge du fer pour étudiants-chercheurs (IARSS), ayant lieu à l’université de Leicester du 19 au 22 mai, 2016.
+++ PLEASE NOTE THE EXTENDED DEADLINE & SPECIFIED CfP +++ We are particularly inviting speakers ... more +++ PLEASE NOTE THE EXTENDED DEADLINE & SPECIFIED CfP +++
We are particularly inviting speakers examining topics around monumentality and social boundaries, terminologies (interpretation and development), archaeological landscapes, production and technologies (esp. metalworking), communities in transition and mortuary studies to complement to the papers already accepted.
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We are pleased to announce that, in partnership with the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham, the 19th Iron Age Research Student Symposium (IARSS) will be held at the University of Leicester between the 19th and 22nd of May 2016.
IARSS is a research student focused conference, designed to serve as a platform for new researchers to share their projects and collaborate with others. As such we are seeking contributions from colleagues currently undertaking research based Masters Degrees, PhDs or Post-doctoral projects. Although IARSS is advertised as being for Iron Age researchers, contributions from those colleagues examining closely related or overlapping periods, such as the Late Bronze Age, are also welcome. In addition to papers which examine aspects of the British Iron Age, we would also like to encourage submissions from colleagues examining the Iron Age in other regions of the world, including but not limited to, Ireland, continental Europe and the Near East.
For those colleagues who wish to be considered to present a paper at IARSS 2016, please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words outlining the background and themes of your research. Please also include 5 key words, separately, that relate to your research.
Abstracts should be sent to:
Iarss2016@gmail.com
The closing date for submissions is the 29th February 2016