A study in culture contact : the distribution, function and social meanings of Roman pottery from non-Roman contexts in southern Scotland
This thesis incorporates a reassessment of Roman pottery from non-Roman contexts in southern Scotland to investigate the complex processes of interaction between Romans and provincial societies. Modern theoretical constructs form the interpretive framework for the discussion to explore how Roman objects functioned in their new social settings. A detailed database has identified a total of 168 sites containing c. 1766 Roman pottery sherds and other objects, while Roman non-ceramic objects have been recovered from an additional 234 sites. The insertion of this data into the ArchGIS program has produced detailed distribution maps to graphically display material spreads and facilitate the identification of material foci. A lack of clearly definable central nodes suggests that the concept of elite access to and control over incoming Roman exotica may be inadequate explanations for the complex and multifarious processes by which the material culture of Empire moved through provincial communities. The hillfort at Traprain Law, East Lothian, is often used to epitomise elite restriction of prestige goods (Hunter 2009) and a detailed study of the Roman ceramics from Traprain is used as a case study (see Chapter 9) to
Campbell, Louisa
CC Archaeology
A study in culture contact : the distribution, function and social meanings of Roman pottery from non-Roman contexts in southern Scotland. This thesis incorporates a reassessment of Roman pottery from non-Roman contexts in southern Scotland to investigate the complex processes of interaction between Romans and provincial societies. Modern theoretical constructs form the interpretive framework for the discussion to explore how Roman objects functioned in their new social settings. A detailed database has identified a total of 168 sites containing c. 1766 Roman pottery sherds and other objects, while Roman non-ceramic objects have been recovered from an additional 234 sites. The insertion of this data into the ArchGIS program has produced detailed distribution maps to graphically display material spreads and facilitate the identification of material foci. A lack of clearly definable central nodes suggests that the concept of elite access to and control over incoming Roman exotica may be inadequate explanations for the complex and multifarious processes by which the material culture of Empire moved through provincial communities. The hillfort at Traprain Law, East Lothian, is often used to epitomise elite restriction of prestige goods (Hunter 2009) and a detailed study of the Roman ceramics from Traprain is used as a case study (see Chapter 9) to
study culture_contact distribution function social_meaning roman_pottery non roman context southern_scotland incorporates reassessment roman_pottery non roman context southern_scotland investigate complex_process interaction romans provincial_society modern theoretical_construct form interpretive_framework discussion explore roman object function new social_setting detailed database identify total site contain roman_pottery sherd object roman non ceramic object recover additional site insertion data program produce detailed distribution_map graphically display material spread facilitate identification material focus lack clearly definable central node suggest concept elite access control incoming roman may inadequate explanation complex multifarious process material_culture empire move provincial community hillfort law east_lothian often use epitomise elite restriction prestige good hunter detail_study roman ceramic use case_study see