Collecting Ancient Fields: Adapting conflict archaeology to a Roman context.

Summary

In the last three decades, the methodologies developed within conflict archaeology have contributed to the exploration of sites far beyond the temporal boundaries of the C19th as imagined in its initial phases. However, methodological difficulties begin to emerge in extending the discipline to conflict pre-dating the introduction of blackpowder weapons. However, existing methodologies can be adapted around the archaeological characteristics of conflict in much earlier periods. This paper considers this process in the context of Roman conflict archaeology. Although the process of Roman conflict left a substantial material signature, problems have been encountered with the physical characteristics of artefacts (particularly the heavy use of ferrous metals), the scale of conflict landscapes, and shortcomings in the historical records. This paper highlights the main challenges in approaching Roman conflict archaeology, presenting an adaptive methodology for exploring conflict sites from this period, bridging the gap between the ancient and modern within the discipline.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Surveying the Field: A Look to the Future of Conflict Archaeology   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 1049