The latest (which is to say, only the second) Epistula newsletter is out from the Roman Society. In it a note on the past season at Binchester including almost exactly the form of words used in Current Archaeology interpreting the inscription. So 'dedicated by' may come from David Mason and not be down to the editors of CA. It's still not right...
While I'm back on that subject: Sacellum? I've only the photo to go on, but after SAC we have a reversed E ligatured with another letter. Is there the lower bar of an L there? I thought perhaps we might just see the foot of an R. But... the context may fit sacellum better and without seeing it, I'd have to defer to RSOT (in fact I'd probably have to anyway!).
Thursday 26 January 2012
Thursday 19 January 2012
Kalefeld Roman Battlefield
While arguments here rage still (well, perhaps 'rage' is a little strong) over the possible site of Boudicca's last stand, and largely on the basis of topography alone, interesting news from Germany. As if finding the site of the Varusschlacht at Kalkriese wasn't enough, news of a new battlefield, much further into Germany, at Kalefeld. Lots of discussion over at RomanArmyTalk.
This too seems to have begun as a series of metal detector finds (dating back to at least 2008) followed up by targeted excavation. Coin evidence and C14 places the date at or after 235 and a historical context is posited in German campaigns of Maximinus Thrax. At this date the nearest permanent bases were 150 miles away on the Rhine, so this army (however constituted) was a long way from home. The metal finds reported recently are spectacular. The inscribed dolabra places some element at least of legio IIII Flavia at the scene.
This too seems to have begun as a series of metal detector finds (dating back to at least 2008) followed up by targeted excavation. Coin evidence and C14 places the date at or after 235 and a historical context is posited in German campaigns of Maximinus Thrax. At this date the nearest permanent bases were 150 miles away on the Rhine, so this army (however constituted) was a long way from home. The metal finds reported recently are spectacular. The inscribed dolabra places some element at least of legio IIII Flavia at the scene.
Wednesday 4 January 2012
Recent Binchester inscription
Some initial comments by RSO Tomlin are reported in the article in Current Archaeology 263. He prefers Sace[llum, shrine, and the text might make more sense as recording the dedication of such. However, I must assume his comments have been simplified for publication - cui praeest does not mean 'dedicated by'. The formulation is surely going to require that the dedication, whether or not of a shrine, is made by the army unit in garrison, cui praeest [insert name] praefectus equitum, 'under the command of [unnamed] prefect
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