Landscape, settlement and materiality : aspects of rural life in Kent during the Roman period
The Roman period is well represented in Kentâs long history of excavation and discovery and it has some prominent sites. Nevertheless, there has been relatively little in the way of up-to-date synthesis or the application of current theoretical approaches. In common with many other areas of the country, rural settlement, especially ânon-villaâ settlement, has received scant attention, whilst even its villas are mostly poorly understood. Since the advent of PPG 16 many more such rural sites have been excavated and there has been a corresponding rise, both qualitative and quantitative, in associated data, much of which remains unpublished. This thesis aims to reassess the Roman period of Kent from a rural standpoint, using a wide range of materials to construct a more nuanced and theoretically informed narrative. The basis of the study is the Kent HER. The archaeological data are combined with a number of landscape resources in order to reveal the influence of Kentâs highly varied terrain and the ways in which it was understood and exploited. Aspects of building and settlement morphology are examined and the potential of artefactual and ecofactual data for adding refinement to our understanding is explored.
Blanning, Elizabeth Denise
CB History of civilization ; CC Archaeology ; DA Great Britain
Landscape, settlement and materiality : aspects of rural life in Kent during the Roman period. The Roman period is well represented in Kentâs long history of excavation and discovery and it has some prominent sites. Nevertheless, there has been relatively little in the way of up-to-date synthesis or the application of current theoretical approaches. In common with many other areas of the country, rural settlement, especially ânon-villaâ settlement, has received scant attention, whilst even its villas are mostly poorly understood. Since the advent of PPG 16 many more such rural sites have been excavated and there has been a corresponding rise, both qualitative and quantitative, in associated data, much of which remains unpublished. This thesis aims to reassess the Roman period of Kent from a rural standpoint, using a wide range of materials to construct a more nuanced and theoretically informed narrative. The basis of the study is the Kent HER. The archaeological data are combined with a number of landscape resources in order to reveal the influence of Kentâs highly varied terrain and the ways in which it was understood and exploited. Aspects of building and settlement morphology are examined and the potential of artefactual and ecofactual data for adding refinement to our understanding is explored.
landscape settlement materiality aspect rural_life kent roman period roman_period well represent kent long_history excavation discovery prominent site nevertheless relatively_little way up_to_date synthesis application current theoretical approach common many_area country rural_settlement especially non villa settlement receive_scant attention whilst even mostly poorly_understood since advent many rural_site excavate correspond rise qualitative_quantitative associate data much remain_unpublished aim_reassess roman_period kent rural standpoint use wide_range material construct nuanced theoretically inform narrative basis study kent her archaeological_data combine number landscape resource order_reveal influence kent highly vary terrain way understood exploit aspects build settlement_morphology examine_potential artefactual data add refinement explore