Late Roman precious metal deposits, c. AD 200-700 : changes over time and space
This thesis draws together more than 1,800 deposits of late Roman precious metals, namely coins, plate, jewellery, and bullion items, over a 500 year period (c. AD200- 700). Deposits from both West and East of the Empire, and beyond the frontiers, are included. Comparisons between these finds are made by focusing on three main aspects: spatial distribution, size, and date range of items within finds, by dividing the material into 22 deposition phases. A methodology has been developed allowing the size of each find to be compared, regardless of its internal structure and precious metal content (i.e. gold or silver), by assigning each find an Equivalent Gold Weight. Hence it is made possible to compare, for instance, a deposit of base metal silver coinage with a deposit of church silver plate, at least in terms of size, which previously has not been attempted. Past approaches to the interpretation and presentation of these finds are examined, with the aim of this research being to move away from traditional foci of study, namely the internal structure of hoards, epigraphy and iconography, and towards producing a background picture on a far broader level, chronologically and spatially. The deposition phases are
Hobbs, Richard
Plate; Coins; Hoards
Late Roman precious metal deposits, c. AD 200-700 : changes over time and space. This thesis draws together more than 1,800 deposits of late Roman precious metals, namely coins, plate, jewellery, and bullion items, over a 500 year period (c. AD200- 700). Deposits from both West and East of the Empire, and beyond the frontiers, are included. Comparisons between these finds are made by focusing on three main aspects: spatial distribution, size, and date range of items within finds, by dividing the material into 22 deposition phases. A methodology has been developed allowing the size of each find to be compared, regardless of its internal structure and precious metal content (i.e. gold or silver), by assigning each find an Equivalent Gold Weight. Hence it is made possible to compare, for instance, a deposit of base metal silver coinage with a deposit of church silver plate, at least in terms of size, which previously has not been attempted. Past approaches to the interpretation and presentation of these finds are examined, with the aim of this research being to move away from traditional foci of study, namely the internal structure of hoards, epigraphy and iconography, and towards producing a background picture on a far broader level, chronologically and spatially. The deposition phases are
late_roman precious_metal deposit change_time space draw_together deposit late_roman precious_metal namely coin plate jewellery item period west east empire beyond frontier include comparisons find make focus three_main aspect spatial_distribution size date_range item within find divide material deposition phase develop allow size compare regardless internal_structure precious_metal content gold_silver assign equivalent gold weight hence make_possible compare instance deposit base metal silver_coinage deposit church silver plate least term size previously_attempt past approach interpretation presentation find examine aim move_away traditional focus study namely internal_structure hoard epigraphy iconography towards produce background picture far broad_level chronologically spatially deposition phase