Britannia 26

Considers sources for the perception of Britain in Roman society, both prior to and after the first century BC invasions.

Considers evidence for two distinct periods of occupation during the Antonine period, predominantly on the basis of archaeological and epigraphic evidence but also considering historical reasons for this interpretation of the evidence and presenting a current interpretation based on the primary evidence itself. The sites at Strageath outpost fort and Outerwards fortlet have been thought to present unequivocal evidence of two-period occupation and are considered in detail. Challenging the idea of two periods of occupation raises questions about the date of final abandonment of the eponymous wall. The nature of Roman occupation and reasons for withdrawal, particularly the part played by the indigenous peoples in resisting Roman expansion, are also called into question. There is an `Appendix: evidence for Antonine I & II from excavated sites in Scotland' (43--9) which provides an alphabetical list of sites and evidence.

Two areas were opened in the garden: Area A, a transverse section across the via decumana, and Area B which investigated the northernmost contubernium of Barrack XII, and the southernmost rooms of the attached centurion's quarters. Three major structural phases were recorded in the barrack area. The first, of Flavian date, saw site clearance and the erection of a concrete-floored building flanking the via decumana, with a gravelled yard to the rear; the yard was used for ironworking.In the second phase industrial activity ceased, the building was demolished, and a stone barrack erected on the site. The barrack dates to the Trajanic period. By the late second century the barrack had been demolished and replaced by a clay-surfaced hardstanding. A resumption of Roman activity, after a long interval, was detected on this surface in the form of a hearth, a shallow pit, and dumps of pottery which included types current at the end of the third century. Numismatic evidence points to systematic robbing of surviving stone in the seventeenth century, probably at the time that the cottage was built. The via decumana itself was shown to have at least two main Roman surfaces and several phases of repair.Reports on the finds include details of coins, including a Neronian dupondius and Charles I farthing, `The Roman glass' by Jennifer Price (80--8), `The small finds' by Janet Webster (88--90), `Samian wares' by K T Greene (91--6), `The coarse pottery' by Peter Webster (96--105), `Stamped tiles' by G C Boon (105--6), and `Graffito' by Richard Wright (106). Au & IH

A re-evaluation of name-pairing interpretatio which analyses them in the context of post-Conquest power relations and the Romanisation of Britain, challenging their traditional use in understanding Celtic deities. The majority of name-paired examples were commissioned by high-ranking military officers and as such are seen not as a dialogue between Roman and native but an Imperialist monologue.

Unveils new statistical method for interpreting the significance of variations in coin loss across time and different site types.

Twenty years after Peacock's seminal work, new evidence is here evaluated. North African amphorae and Dressel forms 20 and 23 imported from Spain are analysed in the context of the Late Romano-British olive oil trade and contact with the Mediterranean. London, York, Exeter and Leicester are the predominant find-sites. Dressel fabric and therefore Baetican imports were prevalent in the first century but North African amphorae became dominant by the third century.

Employs ethnographic, historical, numismatic, and archaeological evidence to elucidate the role of druids in IA society. There is an appendix `The phasing of Iron Age coinage' (301).

Reports on a relatively large cameo depicting the draped bust of a young woman in profile. Dated to the late-second to early-third century AD, it is the first example of its type from Britain. The detail suggests an individual portrait, and the rather large size suggests possible use as a pendant. It is ventured that it was commissioned in the last decades of the Antonine period from a workshop in the Balkans or Eastern Empire by the wife of a wealthy merchant.

Aerial photography during dry weather in 1984 and 1989 revealed a line of postholes outside the north-west side of the hospital building. If they represent a previously unsuspected colonnade structure, questions are raised about the building's entrance which was previously thought to be on the south-eastern side. In addition, earlier suggestions that Inchtuthil possessed an operating theatre are considered, and although the evidence is not conclusive, its incompleteness may represent the beginnings of a theatre structure which, like the fortress as a whole, had not been completed by the time it was abandoned.

An article drawing the attention of Romanists to the NMR as a valuable source of data. Over 10,000 relevant excavations and their attendant literature are recorded. There is an overview of the evidence contained and a contact address.

Reports the 1994 discovery via metal detection of a disc impressed with dies typical of Carausius's coin production (AD 286--93). Forms part of the Imperial lead-sealings series, of which there are thirty-two in RIB.

Following on from the 1983 publication of a gold finger ring -- then said not to have been part of the Thetford Treasure but found elsewhere -- investigations in the course of research indicate that it may in fact have been found along with ten gold coins and a small, gold, female bust at the Treasure site. There are records of the sale of the coins in the 1980s.