Sussex Archaeological Collections: Relating to the history and antiquities of the counties of East and West Sussex
Sussex Archaeological Society, 2000. (updated 2022) https://doi.org/10.5284/1000334. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 285
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000334
- How to cite using this DOI
William Sabatier (1753-1826): Chichester's first field archaeologist.
by JOHN MAGILTON
William Sabatier's 1798 Description of the Roman military works in the neighbourhood of Chichester has a strong claim to be one of the first proper archaeological landscape studies. Although not by any means the first to describe or survey the entrenchments and Roman roads in the vicinity of Chichester, Sabatier was the first to undertake field survey and to describe the results in detail, and the first to illustrate them on a large-scale map. His identity, however, has remained something of a mystery. How could such a gifted fieldworker have proved to be otherwise so anonymous? Where did he develop his skills, and what was his connection with Chichester? Surely 'Sabatier' must be a pseudonym! This paper identifies the man and reveals the family connections and the career that led him to a five-week 'explorement' of the archaeology around Chichester in September and October 1797.
