Cultural change on the north-western frontiers of the Roman Empire : case studies in Britannia and Germania Inferior
This thesis examines the processes of cultural change during the early Roman (before c. AD 250) period in selected areas of Britain and Germany, namely western England and south-west Wales in Britain, and along the Lower Rhine in Germany. The distribution patterns of sites and specific categories of artefacts have been calculated using the extrapolative contour method of Kriging, as well as statistical methods in particular instances. In an attempt to move away from textually-driven descriptions of the Roman past, the resulting distribution patterns of rural sites, military disposition, ceramics, stamped brick and tile, and coinage were examined in terms of the concepts of structure and agency. The patterns of each study region were examined separately, before comparing the sites of Cirencester, Kenchester, and Frocester Court with the regional British patterns to investigate agency and structure at increasingly smaller scales, and to scrutinise the relationship between material culture, structure, and agency in greater detail. Although not always conclusive, the results suggest that such broad patterns can be used to form, at least, general deductions about the social, political, and economic structures of
Lucas, Jason Randolph
CC Archaeology
Cultural change on the north-western frontiers of the Roman Empire : case studies in Britannia and Germania Inferior. This thesis examines the processes of cultural change during the early Roman (before c. AD 250) period in selected areas of Britain and Germany, namely western England and south-west Wales in Britain, and along the Lower Rhine in Germany. The distribution patterns of sites and specific categories of artefacts have been calculated using the extrapolative contour method of Kriging, as well as statistical methods in particular instances. In an attempt to move away from textually-driven descriptions of the Roman past, the resulting distribution patterns of rural sites, military disposition, ceramics, stamped brick and tile, and coinage were examined in terms of the concepts of structure and agency. The patterns of each study region were examined separately, before comparing the sites of Cirencester, Kenchester, and Frocester Court with the regional British patterns to investigate agency and structure at increasingly smaller scales, and to scrutinise the relationship between material culture, structure, and agency in greater detail. Although not always conclusive, the results suggest that such broad patterns can be used to form, at least, general deductions about the social, political, and economic structures of
cultural_change north_western frontier roman_empire case_study britannia inferior examine process cultural_change early_roman period select_area britain_germany namely western england south_west wales britain along lower rhine germany distribution_pattern sit specific category artefact calculate use contour method well statistical_method particular instance attempt_move away textually driven description roman past result distribution_pattern rural_site military disposition ceramic stamp brick_tile coinage examine term concept structure_agency pattern study region examine separately compare site court regional british pattern investigate agency structure increasingly small_scale scrutinise relationship material_culture structure_agency great_detail although always conclusive suggest broad_pattern use form least general deduction social_political economic_structure