Britannia 10

Study of die-links suggests a likely output of nearly 300,000 gold staters (or equivalent), less than a third of Cunobelin's output over the same period. For silver coins there is insufficient information; and Verica produced no bronze coins. Several detailed appendices.

The Dacian defences, conceived as a bastion against the barbarians, were organized under Trajan, most fully developed under Hadrian, and abandoned in 275. As in other provinces the first forts had earthen ramparts, some being replaced in stone in mid-2nd century or later. For reasons of geography the Dacian limes was based on defence in depth, but knowledge of the large number of forts (96) remains patchy; several are treated here.

Features of the Corinthian capital and on a column-shaft suggest a Neronian or early Flavian date. The cornice (certain features of which imply a 1st century date, possibly contemporaneous with the capital) and the pediment, were probably carved by the same masons. The entire construction and decoration of the temple was probably a single enterprise. A T

A rare type of pottery found mainly in Wiltshire was produced briefly and for a limited market, probably the 1st century garrisons of Gloucestershire, Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire.

The Neatham excavations provided the opportunity for a typological and chronological study of the more widely distributed Alice Holt types; the dating of the excavated kilns was also re-examined. The industry developed from the indigenous pre-Roman settlement pattern and remained localized until later 3rd century when the potters gained 25% of the London market. The latest assemblage is of 15th century date. See also pamphlet by D Graham and M Millett, Neatham: a Roman town and its setting, Farnham & Dist Mus Soc, 1980, 24 pp, pls, figs. Price 50p + postage.

Over 280 bone pins from Colchester can be divided into seven types and an approximate chronology (tested against datable pins from other sites) constructed.

A brief description of the two forms and a discussion on the types of decoration are given, together with a short general survey of the tables and a gazetteer of twenty-three British sites. A T

The northern half of the Dyke cannot have been intended as a navigable waterway: it is discontinuous, is not uniformly engineered, and the trade in the area had an E-W rather than a N-S flow. Rather does it appear as a land drainage channel, perhaps also connected with a move of the salt industry necessitated by marine regression.

Gildas's sources were extremely limited; the problems inherent in many of his statements are here discussed in detail.

Celtic philology dictates that the name be spelt Boudica and pronounced 'Bowdeekah' ('bow' as in 'bow and arrow'). A T

Review-article on Hadrian's Wall (D J Breeze and B Dobson, 1976 rev 1978) and Watermills and military works on Hadrian's Wall (ed Grace Simpson, 1976). The first assimilates much recent work and moves a long way in the right direction, eliminating some sacred cows on the way. The second is essentially a work of piety to Gerald Simpson, collecting together a mass of his unpublished work and commenting (sometimes inextricably) on it; the result yields some profit to the discerning scholar. Both works treat the 'traditional Wall destructions of 197 and 296', B & D contributing much of great importance to the debate.