Britannia 12

The title princeps could designate ad hoc commanders of legionary or auxiliary detachments, when it was an equivalent of praepositus, curator, or curam agens, and was distinct from the princeps as head of day-to-day operations. Originally designed for flexibility of command structure it became a set pattern seen from N Britain to Syria. Au(adp)

Corrects several inaccuracies and omissions in the catalogue of British finds of stamped bronze vessels by McPeake and Moore, and makes special study of the skillets stamped by P Cipius Polybius, who was most active from AD 65 to 85.

Brief references are made to Iron Age settlement. Discussion is largely based on small-scale excavations of six sites together with material from aerial survey and field-walking. Drying-out by late 1st century AD led to wide colonization and a massive 2nd century population explosion, with four focal villages and a saltern site. A 3rd century flood was followed by resettlement and great material prosperity. The lack of villas suggests Imperial land, and the evidence is of sheep rearing with some cattle. A T

NS 812792; 977803; 508723. Gives data for the eight sites now known; three were recently located as part of the programme to pinpoint nearly 30 suspected locations along the Wall.

ST 806960. The fragments, in five main groups, probably came from a skilfully executed single figure-painting over two-thirds life size; probable date late 3rd/early 4th century, and the subject may be Achilles on Scyros. Alix Barbet suggests two of the groups may come from another wall. A possible Greek inscription is not yet deciphered. A T/Ed

Describes and discusses items from provenances in or near military installations including Richborough, and from civil sites in the North. Wheels and axes are most numerous, and links with Romano-Celtic or other cults are probable for these and other items. Miniaturization may itself be a religious expression, and forms part of a pre-Roman European tradition. Contrasts with SE Britain are noted. A T/Ed

TL 992248. A group of bone artefacts found at Butt Road, Colchester, points to the location of a nearby workshop; the objects were almost certainly for ornamenting wooden furniture. Experimental work has simulated the tools used and shown the speed with which bone can be worked. Au(abr)

The tile, now located in the British Museum and distinguished from a rather similar Silchester tile, confirms the existence of a Neronian imperial tilery at Little London. Implications are discussed. A T/Ed