183,033 research outputs found
Reconstructing the impact of human activities in a NW Iberian Roman mining landscape for the last 2500 years
No full textThis article was made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Little is known about the impact of human activities during Roman times on NW Iberian mining landscapes beyond the geomorphological transformations brought about by the use of hydraulic power for gold extraction. We present the high-resolution pollen record of La Molina mire, located in an area intensely used for gold mining (Asturias, NW Spain), combined with other proxy data from the same peat core to identify different human activities, evaluate the strategies followed for the management of the resources and describe the landscape response to human disturbances. We reconstructed the timing and synchronicity of landscape changes of varying intensity and form occurred before, during and after Roman times. An open landscape was prevalent during the local Late Iron Age, a period of relatively environmental stability. During the Early Roman Empire more significant vegetation shifts took place, reflected by changes in both forest (Corylus and Quercus) and heathland cover, as mining/metallurgy peaked and grazing and cultivation increased. In the Late Roman Empire, the influence of mining/metallurgy on landscape change started to disappear. This decoupling was further consolidated in the Germanic period (i.e., Visigothic and Sueve domination of the region), with a sharp decrease in mining/metallurgy but continued grazing. Although human impact was intense in some periods, mostly during the Early Roman Empire, forest regeneration occurred afterwards: clearances were local and short-lived. However, the Roman mining landscape turned into an agrarian one at the onset of the Middle Ages, characterized by a profound deforestation at a regional level due to a myriad of human activities that resulted in an irreversible openness of the landscape. © 2014 The Authors
Beyond the Foreigner: representations of non-roman individuals and communities in latin historiography, from Sallust to Ammianus Marcellinus
No full textFrom the foundation of the city of Rome in 753 BCE to the capture of the same in 476 CE, the ancient Romans came into contact with a diverse range of peoples. The Romans did not want only to conquer these peoples and incorporate them into the empire, but also they displayed a genuine interest in learning about foreigners. Roman historical narrative demonstrates clearly this prevailing curiosity. This thesis examines the representations of foreign individuals and communities in five works: SaUust, helium lugurthinum; Livy, Ab Vrhe Condita 21-30; Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, Historiae Philippicae 11-12; Tacitus, Germania; Ammianus MarcelHnus, Res Gestae 23.6. These authors represent a broad range of types of history writing (monograph, AUG history, universal history), and they span most of die history of Rome as an empire (40s BCE to the late 300s CE). Moreover, these works represent a diverse range of geographic locations in that they include the three major parts of the world as understood by the Romans: Africa, Europe and Asia. Finally, they cover—or they exist within the context of—the full range of the Roman-Foreign experience: victory (Numidia, Carthage), defeat (Persia), and non- result (Germani).This thesis demonstrates that Roman historians employ a diverse range of presentations of non-Roman individuals and communities. Roman historians appear not to have been constrained by a narrow set of rules when it comes to writing non- Romans; rather, each author can be seen to be engaging in a wider Roman discourse on the foreigner. And this discourse extends beyond the Roman world and Roman historical writing: the historians of Rome can be seen as building upon, and responding to, the so-called father of history, Herodotus, whose own narrative established firmly that exploration of the foreigner is an important part of historical inquiry. Close analysis clearly demonstrates each presentation of a non-Roman character or community to be an intricate and fascinating construction, and understanding how the foreigner is conceptualised in the work is of critical importance. On the one hand, the presentation of foreigners fits into the historian’s overarching aims and objectives in his work; on the other hand, the representation of foreigners can dictate the ways in which the Roman history is narrated. Non-Romans both fit into and they provide direction for, Roman historical narrative. By studying the complexities of the presentation of non-Romans, therefore, this thesis enhances our understanding of the sophistication of Roman historical writing. Despite the continuing acknowledgement of the important role ethnography plays in writings of Herodotus and his Greek and Roman successors and imitators, there has not so far been a genre-wide detailed study of the ethnography in Greek or Roman historiography. This thesis, therefore, seeks to rectify partially this omission on the part of scholarship, and establish a foundation for future study of the non-Roman in Latin literature and Roman culture
A re-examination of the evidence for parade-grounds at auxiliary forts in Roman Britain
No full textThis Thesis examines the underlying evidence for parade-grounds at auxiliary forts in Roman Britain. Firstly by examining the evidence supporting forts with actual physical remains, such as the altars and the tribunal at Maryport and the artificially levelled area at Hardknott, and those with flagged areas which have been interpreted as parade-grounds, such as Ambleside and Gelligaer. The literary evidence of ancient authors is examined with particular reference to training and exercising and where this might have been undertaken. The occasions when a parade might have been appropriate in Roman times are examined, as is the possibility of a modem concept being superimposed on an ancient action
The taberna structures of Roman Britain
No full textThe aim of this thesis is to explain how the shops (tabernae) of Roman Britain related to society. The buildings of a more humble nature, including tabernae, have been frequently overlooked at the expense of the more ornate public buildings and villas. This thesis proposes to redress this imbalance, as it is believed that retailing and manufacture were one of the most crucial features of Roman society. Varied sources have been used to aid this hypothetical reconstruction and these included the excavated archaeological remains, the extant remains from other parts of the empire and the ancient literary sources. Although these provided a wealth of information they are by themselves limited in what they can reveal about their society. Anthropological and geographical studies have proved an immensely useful tool to illuminate other aspects of society. These were approached with great circumspection and examined in relation to the archaeological evidence. Using all this information the thesis attempts to describe and explain the major factors that helped to create the form and geographical pattern of retail establishments in Roman Britain. It is argued that the tabernae were more responsive to and give a more accurate picture of the social and economic climate of Roman Britain than any other building type. It appears that the Romano-British community was well catered for in life's necessities with a wide variety of merchandise supplied by tabernae. The development of tabernae is difficult to summarise, as more than any other building type they were subject to a multitude of varied and individual circumstances, but it can be demonstrated that a thriving and competitive retailing community existed in the major settlements of Roman Britain
Roman inscriptions 2006–2010
No full textThe aim of this quinquennial survey remains the same as its predecessor, as for the most part does the format, though the team is regrettably reduced by one. With an eye to the study of the Roman world, we hope to signal the most important newly published inscriptions, significant reinterpretations of previously published material, new trends in scholarship, recent studies that draw heavily on epigraphic sources, and noteworthy developments in the various aids to understanding inscriptions (both traditional printed material and electronic resources). In the context of this journal, the geographical range and chronological scope reflect the contours and history of the Roman state from its beginnings down to the end of the seventh century. As such, not only does the survey naturally take in Greek as well as Latin texts, but also epigraphic material in other languages relevant to the Roman world. In the hope that they might usefully reflect the various fields of primary interest to readers of this journal, we have maintained the categories established in the last survey. These comprise, after material of general interest and significance, principal divisions under the headings of (II) Government, law, and authority, (III) Cities, (IV) Funerary epigraphy, (V) Religions, and (VI) Language, literature, and onomastics. The structure of the first section has been changed somewhat in order to give greater prominence to those inscriptions here singled out as historical highlights. The organization of the discussion within each section (or subsection) generally moves between the thematic, chronological, and geographical, as seems to suit the material best
Le drôle de roman
No full textIl existe en littérature une étrange loi de la gravité qui veut que les œuvres comiques ou humoristiques soient négligées par la critique. Pour cette dernière, les plus grandes œuvres sont par nécessité les plus sérieuses. L’objet de ce livre consiste à proposer une vision nouvelle du corpus du roman français de la première moitié du XXe siècle, en y réhabilitant ce qu’on peut appeler le courant du roman « drôle », illustré notamment par les œuvres de Marcel Aymé, d’Albert Cohen et de Raymon..
The social context of eating and drinking at native settlements in early Roman Britain.
No full textObservation of the presence and absence of Roman-style goods and structures has guided much of the analysis of imperialism in Roman Britain and other parts of the Empire. Wealth and power have been assumed to correlate with the extent to which a group's material culture and lifestyle appeared `Romanized'. The concept of `Romanization' has become the primary measurement of change in the lives of the people who were conquered: and where there was only slight evidence of Romanization, there is an assumption that the lives of people were little changed and continued much as they did before the conquest. Many of the signifiers used to describe `Romanization' are tied to the consumption of food and drink. Eating and drinking, however, is much more than the observance of particular ingredients and containers - it is also the consideration of how and where one eats and drinks, and with whom and why. Rarely is the totality of food and drink consumption in Roman Britain considered. This study challenges the inventories of `Roman' and `native' material culture, so as to incorporate different types of settlements and the experiences of people of different socio- economic backgrounds into discussions of Roman Britain. This thesis develops a methodological approach to the analysis of the social contexts of the consumption of food and drink at `native type' settlements during the post-conquest period in an attempt to access the localized effects of imperialism. This approach was realized through an in- depth analysis of four sites in the Upper Thames Valley. The four sites selected for analysis are: Barton Court Farm, Roughground Farm, Old Shifford Farm, and Claydon Pike
Philosophies du roman policier
No full textOn sera peut-être d’abord surpris par ce titre et par le rapprochement quelque peu inusité qu’il indique. Pourtant, pour peu qu’on veuille bien, après cet étonnement stimulant en quoi commence toute pensée, prendre la peine d’y réfléchir, on s’apercevra que ce lien entre philosophie et roman policier, pour inattendu qu’il puisse paraître, n’est pas dépourvu de fondements. Dans les deux cas en effet n’est-il pas question de raisonnements, de recherches de la vérité, de nature humaine ? Le roman policier, comme le dit ici même Guy Lardreau "présente fictivement des concepts". Dès lors, il paraissait intéressant de lancer le double pari que, d’une part, des philosophes avaient quelque chose à dire du roman policier et que, d’autre part, du roman policier il y avait quelque chose à dire qui ait à voir avec la philosophie. C’est ce défi joyeux à l’intelligence que les participants de ce volume ont accepté de relever, avec d’autant plus de plaisir pour les philosophes de profession qu’ils en avaient souvent manifesté l’envie sans en avoir jamais l’occasion. On pourrait lire ce recueil deux fois, une fois comme une série d’approches nouvelles du roman policier, et une fois comme un manuel de philosophie buissonnière
Some aspects of its post-roman influence on the landscape
No full textHadrian's Wall is the longest single stone built ancient monument in the United Kingdom and its influence on the man-made landscape has been greater than that of any other surviving structure. Over the last century and a half archaeological excavation and research have largely pieced together the history and function of the monument as it pertains to the Roman period. Little in-depth research has been undertaken regarding its function in and influence on the landscape from the end of the Roman period to the present day. This study has attempted to understand the role that various factors including: geology, topography, population distribution, building types, farming practices, local history and national politics have had on the survival or destruction of the Wall and the influence that the Wall has had on such things as the place-names of settlements, field names, land forms, and even in the naming of houses, streets and businesses. The Wall is referred to in early 8th century manuscripts, Norman charters as well as medieval documents, charters, maps and estate plans and is described in varying detail by antiquarian sources. The present landscape along the Wall owes its existence to past generations and their close relationship to the Wall of Hadrian
What was a mortarium used for? Organic residues and cultural change in Iron Age and Roman Britain.
No full textThe Romans brought the mortarium to Britain in the first century AD, and there has long been speculation on its actual purpose. Using analysis of the residues trapped in the walls of these ‘kitchen blenders’ and comparing them with Iron Age and Roman cooking pots, the authors show that it wasn’t the diet that changed — just the method of preparing certain products: plants were being ground in the mortarium as well as cooked in the pot. As well as plants, the mortars contained animal fats, including dairy products. The question that remains, however, is why these natural products were being mixed together in mortaria. Were they for food, pharmaceuticals or face creams
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