Beyond text : Latin inscriptions as material culture in Roman Sardinia (237BC-AD300)
This thesis uses the early Latin inscriptions of Sardinia to investigate aspects of culture contact and local responses to new ideas of inscribing on stone after the Roman take-over of Sardinia. Previous traditions may also have had an impact on the inscriptions of the Roman era; in this case, the Nuragic and Punic periods which preceded the Roman conquest. The Latin inscriptions are used to examine the results of the cultural encounters between existing populations and incomers and to see whether the incorporation of previous traditions has led to expressions of a more âindigenousâ or even a âRomano-Sardoâ identity. Epigraphic material is used typically only as a textual source. Naturally there are some exceptions, such as inscriptions with high quality relief sculpture which have been used to investigate perceived identities or the portrayal of certain aspects of life. However, the majority of inscriptions do not fall into this category and the iconographic aspects of these stones are often very subtle. Therefore, the inscriptions studied in this thesis are treated as material culture and their every detail is considered. To this end the concept of the chaĂźne opĂ©ratoire is examined and the various
Steedman, Martha Johanna
DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World
Beyond text : Latin inscriptions as material culture in Roman Sardinia (237BC-AD300). This thesis uses the early Latin inscriptions of Sardinia to investigate aspects of culture contact and local responses to new ideas of inscribing on stone after the Roman take-over of Sardinia. Previous traditions may also have had an impact on the inscriptions of the Roman era; in this case, the Nuragic and Punic periods which preceded the Roman conquest. The Latin inscriptions are used to examine the results of the cultural encounters between existing populations and incomers and to see whether the incorporation of previous traditions has led to expressions of a more âindigenousâ or even a âRomano-Sardoâ identity. Epigraphic material is used typically only as a textual source. Naturally there are some exceptions, such as inscriptions with high quality relief sculpture which have been used to investigate perceived identities or the portrayal of certain aspects of life. However, the majority of inscriptions do not fall into this category and the iconographic aspects of these stones are often very subtle. Therefore, the inscriptions studied in this thesis are treated as material culture and their every detail is considered. To this end the concept of the chaĂźne opĂ©ratoire is examined and the various
beyond text latin_inscription material_culture roman sardinia bc_ad early latin_inscription sardinia investigate aspect culture_contact local_response new_idea inscribe stone roman take over sardinia previous tradition may_also impact inscription roman_era case period precede roman_conquest latin_inscription use examine cultural_encounter exist population see_whether incorporation previous tradition lead expression indigenous even romano identity epigraphic_material use typically textual_source naturally exception inscription high_quality relief sculpture use_investigate perceive identity portrayal certain_aspect life however majority inscription fall category iconographic aspect stone often subtle therefore inscription study treat material_culture every detail consider end concept chaazne_opa ratoire examine_various