Exploring Roman identities : case-studies from Spain and Britain in the second century AD
Research into roman archaeology has focussed around the study of romanization, whether implicitly or explicitly. This discourse is increasingly criticized as overly constricting; yet proffered alternatives seem unable to break away from its language and underlying prejudices. In this thesis, romanization and the exploration of change are rejected, along with the fundamental opposition of 'roman' and 'native'. It is proposed that a synchronic exploration of social practice will offer an alternative avenue for understanding the spread of roman power. This thesis offers a series of urban case studies from Spain and Britain, through which the question of social identities is explored. The material analysed consists of the public buildings and the epigraphic record, both treated as material culture implicated in social practice. The idea of power as a dialectic is explicit throughout. A series of themes are addressed; these are traditionally seen as fundamental to the process of romanization. Here they are viewed as written into the fabric of the town: they are recreated through the frequent, repetitive actions of the members of these communities; in turn, they also seen to constrain the possibilities of action.
Revell, Louise
CC Archaeology
Exploring Roman identities : case-studies from Spain and Britain in the second century AD. Research into roman archaeology has focussed around the study of romanization, whether implicitly or explicitly. This discourse is increasingly criticized as overly constricting; yet proffered alternatives seem unable to break away from its language and underlying prejudices. In this thesis, romanization and the exploration of change are rejected, along with the fundamental opposition of 'roman' and 'native'. It is proposed that a synchronic exploration of social practice will offer an alternative avenue for understanding the spread of roman power. This thesis offers a series of urban case studies from Spain and Britain, through which the question of social identities is explored. The material analysed consists of the public buildings and the epigraphic record, both treated as material culture implicated in social practice. The idea of power as a dialectic is explicit throughout. A series of themes are addressed; these are traditionally seen as fundamental to the process of romanization. Here they are viewed as written into the fabric of the town: they are recreated through the frequent, repetitive actions of the members of these communities; in turn, they also seen to constrain the possibilities of action.
exploring roman_identity case_studies spain britain roman archaeology focus around study romanization whether implicitly explicitly discourse increasingly criticize overly yet proffer alternative seem unable break away language underlying prejudice romanization exploration change reject along fundamental opposition roman native propose synchronic exploration social_practice offer_alternative avenue spread roman power offer series urban case_study spain britain question social_identity explore material analyse consist public_building epigraphic record treat material_culture implicate social_practice idea power dialectic explicit throughout series theme address traditionally_see fundamental process romanization view write fabric town recreate frequent repetitive action member_community turn also_see constrain possibility action