Past in Ruins or Ruinous Past: The Roman Heritage of Nations (original) (raw)

What Divides Us Also Connects Us: Roman Frontiers, World Heritage and Community

The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice

Roman Frontiers (Limes) run through several countries across Europe, the Near East and North Africa. In addition to those territories on the boundaries of the Empire, Roman military remains and artefacts are recorded in other countries, reflecting the development, expansion and contraction of the Roman Empire as well as trade within and beyond its borders. Since the early 2000s, a project has been ongoing to create a series of transnational World Heritage properties for the Frontiers of the Roman Empire, building on existing networking connections established through the International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies and establishing new collaborations and partnerships, from local to international. In recognising the outstanding value to all humanity of our shared cultural heritage, the Limes provide an opportunity to connect communities and countries, as well as engender a sense of local pride in the global importance of remains. This paper is derived from a keynote given at the European Association of Archaeologists virtual conference in 2020, and asks how, when wrestling with global challenges such as Climate Change and the Covid19 pandemic, can World Heritage and Roman Frontiers contribute to our 21 st century society?

Increasing International Perspectives in Theoretical Roman Archaeology

Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal

The editorial of this second issue of the Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal (TRAJ) celebrates diverse and innovative topics related to Roman theoretical studies and reflects upon new ways to stimulate more international participation in the Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference (TRAC). The data collected on the attendance demonstrates that Roman studies are becoming more diverse with delegates travelling from 27 countries. The guest editors of this edition consider how formative education differs in both Italy and the UK and how this may affect the accessibility of Roman studies. Moreover, the increasing homogenisation of Roman Archaeology Conference (RAC) and TRAC has been considered and it is suggested that in order to allow the two conferences to grow further, we need to develop a more constructive dialogue. The guest editors here seek to address these issues in order to encourage a better level of international contribution and attendance, as well as to consider the discussion of theory within RAC and whether jointly organised sessions may be productive.

Looking at (Roman) heritage

What is heritage? What are the boundaries of heritage? What is required to call something 'heritage'? In this paper, I reflect on heritage as a concept that is interrelated with the concept of memory and I examine a recent example of creating heritage: the Flower pot of Blenheim Palace. Then, I continue to reflect on some challenges in urban development in Rome.

The Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site

Studia honoraria archaeologica

This paper outlines the history of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site and the challenges of management of this international site and the protection of individual sites as well as the whole. The integration of portable objects (inscriptions and artefacts) is discussed, given that these are exempt from the World Heritage classification. Finally, a vision for the future of the World Heritage Site is presented.

Roman Archaeology in Lockdown

Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal, 2020

The third issue of the Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal (TRAJ) provides the opportunity to assess the structural issues in academia detailed in the previous editorials of the journal. The articles, and their authors, included in this volume were each affected by the worldwide pandemic. Throughout this period, however, the world has also become the theatre that enacted a renewal of social movements that amplified marginalised voices and experiences. Lack of representation was a key theme through TRAC 2019 and was emphasised by the conference's keynote speaker, Zena Kamash. This editorial examines the contemporary context of Roman archaeology, its engagement with social justice, along with the struggles and opportunities afforded to it by COVID-19. Also included is an introduction to the diverse range of subjects discussed throughout TRAJ volume 3, that moves beyond the traditional analysis of ancient Italy and other anglophone countries.