Britannia 22

Consideration of the differences in style and use between small knives and razors in the Roman barber's toolkit.

An account of work carried out over the past ten years, particularly that undertaken by English Heritage and the National Trust between Steel Rigg and Housesteads.

Report on rescue excavations in a small area forming part of barrack blocks IX and X in the Prysg series which were descheduled after V E Nash-Williams' excavations in 1927-9. Important evidence concerning both the early earthfast timber and final stone building phases was obtained. Includes specialist reports on `The pottery' D R Evans (118-29), `A bronze plaque depicting Victory and trophy' J David </ze> Zienkiewicz (130-2), `Objects of copper alloy' J </ze> Webster (132-3), `Iron object' Ian R </ze> Scott (133), `The lead tags' David R </ze> Evans (133-4), `The glass' Dee </ze> Brennan (134-5), `The tile stamps' Edith Evans (135-6), and `The industrial material' David R Evans (136).

Follow on from an article by H Stupperich (see 81/7645) which also concerned examples whose interpretation, although initially problematic, transpired to be closer to the standard design repertoire than was first thought.

Consolidation of C R Smith's 1841 report on coins from the Thames bed beneath London Bridge with new information from excavations in the City and Southwark.

Provisional dating of its construction points to an early-second century AD date, although a later date may prove to be the case. There are possible implications for the chronology of other buildings on the site which arise if this structure dates to the fortlet phase.

Bronze sceptre head with neck rivet still in place is described and compared with similar finds.

Follows on from a response by Burgess (see 91/594) concerning an earlier article by the same authors (see 89/446) on use of the Gallic Chronicle as evidence for Anglo-Saxon invasions.

A resumé of sites explored, region by region, giving brief descriptions of the latest developments from excavations during this year. Also details of recovered inscriptions from both the monumental and instrumentum domesticatum categories.