Books and Journals by Courtney A. Ward
Acta ad archaeologiam et artium historiam pertinentia, 2023
Volume 33 of Acta ad archaeologiam et artium historiam pertinentia, the DNiR journal, presents pa... more Volume 33 of Acta ad archaeologiam et artium historiam pertinentia, the DNiR journal, presents papers from two very different workshops held at the Norwegian Institute in 2019. The first, New research on late-antique recycling, was a one-day workshop organised by Simon J. Barker and held on September 5th. The second, Adornment as expression of everyday identity in ancient and medieval life, was a two-day conference held later in September on the 12-13th. It was organised by Courtney A. Ward and jointly held with the Finnish Institute in Rome. Although very different in scope, both meetings aimed to bring together new and established scholars not only to address traditional areas of research within these respective topics but also to provide a forum in which to present new finds and novel approaches.
Publications by Courtney A. Ward
Acta ad archaeologiam et artium historiam pertinentia, 2023
Roman jewellery is often seen as a clear marker of wealth and luxury. While it is often classifie... more Roman jewellery is often seen as a clear marker of wealth and luxury. While it is often classified and analysed as a single class and with an emphasis on pieces composed of gold and other precious materials, it is only when we start to look at the differences between individual objects that we can get a more nuanced understanding of this material culture and its role in Roman society and culture. Undoubtedly there was a market for comparable forms of jewellery for women from different socio-economic backgrounds to display similar aspects of their identities but within their own budgets (e.g., young, (presumably) married mothers-to-be). It is only by considering the spectrum of luxury that we can highlight how differences in quality and design reveal important choices behind the use of particular items of jewellery or packages of personal adornment. In other words, we should be cautious of grouping all jewellery together and under the simple label of ‘luxury.’ Not all gold jewellery, for example, was created equal.
In: D. Maschek and M. Trümper (eds.), Architecture and the Ancient Economy. Proceedings of a conference held at Berlin, 26–28 September 2019. Analysis Archaeologica. An International Journal of Western Mediterranean Archaeology. Monograph Series, N. 7. Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2023
In the last several decades, architectural energetics has provided an important modus operandi fo... more In the last several decades, architectural energetics has provided an important modus operandi for scholars seeking to relate Roman monuments to the social, political, and economic contexts in which they were built. While the general methodology and its utility are now well-established, a degree of standardisation is necessary, especially in the selection of time-labour rates, their application to specific structures, and the presentation of the data. To this end, the present paper serves both as an introduction for scholars seeking to engage with energetics and Roman architecture for the first-time and as a reflection on the sources available and their application to different questions within the wider discipline. In considering the myriad of variables that may be taken into consideration for energetics studies, the paper is intended to spark debate and discussion about how authors may best use this rich methodological approach to Roman architecture and the ancient economy.
Alicia J. Batten and Kelly Olson (eds) Dress in Mediterranean Antiquity: Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians, 2021
The article demonstrates that while the Roman jurists classified women’s jewellery (ornamenta mul... more The article demonstrates that while the Roman jurists classified women’s jewellery (ornamenta muliberia) as having no other purpose than adornment, such adornment did have social and cultural functions.
The article looks at archaeological, artistic, and literary evidence to show that female jewellery displayed more than just wealth. Jewellery was also an indicator of age, ethnicity, and political, marital and social status, as is evidenced by the fact that women from different socio-economic backgrounds wore similar forms (and even materials) of jewellery to display other shared aspects of their identity.
L. D. donnellan (ed.) Archaeological networks and social interaction. Towards an application of network analysis and networkconcepts in social archaeology, 2020
This paper explores the link between marble use in Roman domestic contexts and social ties throug... more This paper explores the link between marble use in Roman domestic contexts and social ties through Social Network Analysis. The use of imported marble as a decorative material is almost synonymous with élite status display in the Roman world. The importance of marble decoration in Roman domestic contexts is evident from the display of both real and painted imitation marble at sites around the Bay of Naples like Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae. Here, well-preserved pavements from the first century BC to the first century AD feature marbles from all over the Mediterranean and Egypt’s Eastern Desert. Marble is a visual object –visibility is a central feature of its social significance, thus a key element in aiding its spread via social interaction. As such, this paper seeks to understand to what extent and in what ways social relations impacted the spread of domestic marble decoration in the Roman town of Pompeii.
Britannia, 2016
A hoard of objects found at the early Roman colony at Colchester in a small hole scraped into the... more A hoard of objects found at the early Roman colony at Colchester in a small hole scraped into the floor of a house destroyed during the Boudican revolt includes a group of high-quality gold jewellery, three silver military awards, a bag of coins, an unusual silver-clad wooden box and other items. Buried in haste as the British approached, they provide a remarkably clear image of one couple's background, achievements, taste and social standing. A bulla shows that the man was a Roman citizen, the awards that he was a veteran soldier of some distinction, while parallels for the woman's jewellery suggest that it was acquired in Italy.
Elaine K. Gazda and John R. Clarke (eds) Leisure and Luxury in the Age of Nero: the Villas of Oplontis near Pompeii. Exhibition Catalogue, p. 171 - 177., 2016
Rivista di Studi Pompeiani XXIV (2013): 124-134, 2015
This article provides a preliminary report on the 2013 field season of the “Marmo al Mare” Projec... more This article provides a preliminary report on the 2013 field season of the “Marmo al Mare” Project. The principal object of our project is to undertake the first comprehensive study of the lithic decoration for the most prominent elite houses within the Vesuvian area. This was the first field season for the Project, in which our efforts were focused on a survey of the overall marble use at the Villa Arianna (and the so-called secondo complesso) and the Villa San Marco, including but not limited to marble thresholds, pavements and wall crustae. At the Villa Arianna work was focused on systematically documenting the marble insert pavement in room M and an initial survey of the opus sectile pavements of the thermal complex. Examination of the spoliated floor in room 13 of the so-called secondo complesso led to the discovery that the floor had been re-laid due to subsidence. At San Marco examination of opus sectile floor in room 16 has allow for a preliminary reconstruction of the pavement that will be tested in later seasons. This report outlines these results, as well as our initial impressions of the marble décor at both villas, and our approach to the quantification of marble varieties and prestige levels, especially with regard to insert pavements.
E. Gasparini and P. Pensabene (eds.) Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Stone. ASMOSIA X. Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference of ASMOSIA Association for the Study of Marble & Other Stones in Antiquity Rome, 21-26 May 2012, 2015
Roman stone-carvers were proficient at transforming highly specific objects into quite different ... more Roman stone-carvers were proficient at transforming highly specific objects into quite different ones: columns were re-carved into statue bodies, entablature blocks reworked into sarcophagi, even statue fragments were re-cut into new objects. The cost and effort required to transport stone and the labour required to carve it, gave it a lasting value. This value made it unlikely that such a resource would have been discarded if it could have been usefully re-used, carved into something new, or burned for lime. This paper draws on several examples of re-carving to examine the practice of transformative recycling. It will consider the variety of such practices, the types of sculpted objects that best lent themselves to re-use and what limitations the size of these objects had on their value in re-use. This paper concludes that the intrinsic value and availability of stone led Roman sculptors to utilise second-hand pieces for a variety of purposes quite different from their original function.
FOLD&R Fasti On Line Documents & Research, 298, 2013
This article provides a preliminary report on the 2013 field season of the Marmo al Mare Project.... more This article provides a preliminary report on the 2013 field season of the Marmo al Mare Project. The principal object of our project is to undertake the first comprehensive study of the lithic decoration for the most prominent elite houses within the Vesuvian area. In the first field season our efforts were focused on a survey of the overall marble-use at the Villa Arianna (and the so-called secondo complesso) and the Villa San Marco, including but not limited to marble thresholds, pavements and wall crustae. This report outlines our initial impressions of the marble décor at both villas, as well as our approach to the quantification of marble varieties and prestige levels.
Conferences and Sessions Organised by Courtney A. Ward
Portable objects and small finds constitute a large and important body of evidence from the ancie... more Portable objects and small finds constitute a large and important body of evidence from the ancient world. While portable personal possessions could be retained over significant periods for economic reasons, this explanation does not address all instances. By their nature, these smaller objects could easily change hands (e.g., sold to new owners or passed down from one family member to another). The focus of this session is on the meeting of material and memory. In particular, it will look at the identification and interpretation of valued personal possessions (e.g., adornment, tableware, souvenirs)-that is objects that were worn, used, and above all, retained due to their connection with specific individuals or events.
The conference is a multi-period and multi-regional discussion of the ways in which personal ador... more The conference is a multi-period and multi-regional discussion of the ways in which personal adornment can be used to better understand various aspects of identity. A central concept of the conference is to encourage collaborative dialogue within the study of the archaeology of adornment, identity and the body in both the ancient and medieval worlds. This approach will allow for a greater understanding of how adornment and identity have been successfully approached by other scholars in these different periods.
The conference is intended to be a multi-period and multi-regional discussion of the ways in whic... more The conference is intended to be a multi-period and multi-regional discussion of the ways in which personal adornment can be used to better understand various aspects of identity. A central concept of the conference is to encourage collaborative dialogue within the study of the archaeology of adornment, identity and the body in both the ancient and medieval worlds. This approach will allow for a greater understanding of how adornment and identity have been successfully approached by other scholars in these different periods.
Taking its point of departure from several recent “holistic” approaches towards the investigation... more Taking its point of departure from several recent “holistic” approaches towards the investigation of ancient jewellery, this workshop reassess current developments in the field. This workshop treats ancient jewellery as artefacts that should be used as a source material in investigations of various aspects of ancient society. It will revise how ancient jewellery is utilized and classified from art historical, archaeological and technological perspectives.
The one-day workshop brings together scholars studying ancient jewellery and personal adornment with the goal of not only discussing current perspectives and new methodologies but also to create a platform of interdisciplinary exchange for the study of such material. The workshop is divided into three sections: scientific, methodological and social approaches to the study of ancient jewellery. The papers in these sections are from a variety of temporal and cultural areas of ancient adornment to bring out wider methodological approaches to the study of ancient jewellery that might be applied to other periods and cultural situations.
Thesis by Courtney A. Ward
unpublished D.Phil thesis, 2014
Gender has been a critical influence in archaeology over the past 30 years; however there is stil... more Gender has been a critical influence in archaeology over the past 30 years; however there is still a tendency to view jewellery and personal adornment purely as the realm of wealthy women. This thesis employs new methodological approaches to the understanding of Roman gender and identity. It aims to uncover the multiple gender identities extant in the first century AD through an analysis of the skeletal evidence and associated jewellery finds from the Vesuvian area. To this end, it focuses on the contextual background for the study as a whole, looking at past approaches to the study of gender (Chapter 1); the methodology for the valuation system used to categorize and evaluate the objects of personal adornment in this thesis (Chapter 2); the methodological background for the use of skeletal remains in assessing the gender identities identified in this thesis (Chapter 3); the skeletal and jewellery evidence from Herculaneum (Chapter 4); the evidence for personal adornment associated with skeletal remains from the city of Pompeii, especially the 13 individuals from the Casa di Giulio Polibio (Chapter 5); and finally, the jewellery associated with the human remains found in Villa B at Oplontis (Chapter 6).
This study focuses on the 45 skeletons with associated personal adornment that have been excavated from secure contexts in Herculaneum, Pompeii and Oplontis. This material comprises men and women of various ages and different socio-economic backgrounds, and multiple jewellery types (necklaces, finger-rings, bracelets, earrings and hairnets) in a variety of material, such as gold, silver, bronze, bone and glass. Despite the wealth of this material and its potential for the study of gender identity, most studies have continued to view this material in isolation. This thesis argues that studies should look beyond the age and sex of a skeleton or the typology of a piece of jewellery, and examine this material in its broader social, cultural and historical contexts. I conclude that the use and display of personal adornment was integral in creating the gender identities of men and women during the first century AD, and that although the full study of the skeletal remains and associated finds from undisturbed contexts is the optimal research framework, even after decades of study and excavation, and indeed lost contextual associations, fresh inferences about the gender identity and/or socio-economic status of individuals may nonetheless be drawn.
Papers Presented by Courtney A. Ward
Clothing Identities Conference
Jewellery and personal adornment were integral in the expression of identityty through dress in t... more Jewellery and personal adornment were integral in the expression of identityty through dress in the Roman period. In addition to wealth and status, jewellery was used to display various aspects of an individual’s gender identityty, e.g., age, marital status, ethnicityty, etc. Suetonius (Iul. 43), for example, reported that Caesar restrict- ed the use of pearls to women of a certain age and social status. This paper will argue that two of these aspects – marital and maternal status – were arguably some of the most important aspects of a woman’s identityty and that they were expressed through specifific articles of adornment.
An oftft-cited quotation by Livy (34.8–9) clearly states that jewellery and adorn- ment were ‘a woman’s badges of honour,’ equal to the highest military and political honours of prominent men. Moreover, in certain periods motherhood was clearly linked with the right to wear specifific items of jewellery (e.g., Ulp. 13–16; Gaius Inst. 1.145, 1.195, 2.111, 2.86–86a). Was motherhood, then, one of the deeds for which such ‘badges of honour’ were awarded?
To accomplish its aims, this paper will look at the jewellery assemblages found alongside the skeletal remains of victims flfleeing from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE – in particular, the remains of two young women found at the House of Ju- lius Polybius in Pompeii and at Oplontis B. Both were discovered with foetuses in their abdominal cavities and in possession of similar packages of adornment. This material will be supplemented with evidence from the wider Roman world, includ- ing funerary assemblages associated with so-called mors immatura and Egyptian dowries and mummy portraits. Overall, this paper will focus on the identifification of specifific ‘packages of adornment’ from the fifirst century CE that clearly identifified their wearers as young, married Roman mothers.
The importance of studying the labour involved in the creation of ancient buildings for placing t... more The importance of studying the labour involved in the creation of ancient buildings for placing these structures in their proper social and economic contexts is now well acknowledged; however, the approach has perhaps not been applied as widely as possible to a representative range of different kinds of buildings with mausolea, in particular, standing out as a building form in need of consideration. Given the importance of ostentatious tomb-building during the late Republic it is worth investigating the cost implications for the construction of such monuments. How much of an investment (labour and material) did monumental tomb-projects require? And therefore, what were the economic implications for tombs as a symbol of status?
The pyramid of C. Cestius provides an ideal cast study. Located at a prominent intersection of the Via Ostiensis, the pyramid tomb of C. Cestius (12-18 BC) survives almost in its original state. Moreover, the tomb contains an inscription detailing that the construction was completed in 330 days. This case therefore allows us to investigate what this statement implies regarding the labour/material requirements required for such a build and whether this was as impressive a feat as the inscription implies. It also brings into focus the social implications of these large-scale funerary monuments not only for the landscape but also for the economy of Rome.
The residues of practices relating to dress and adornment are present in many ways in the archaeo... more The residues of practices relating to dress and adornment are present in many ways in the archaeological and visual records of the ancient world, from the physical traces of dressed bodies, to images depicting them, to texts describing textile production and sumptuary customs. Previous scholarship has provided useful typological frameworks, but has often viewed these objects as static trappings of status and gender. The goal of this session is to illuminate the dynamic role of dress in the performance and construction of aspects of individual and social identity, and to encourage collaborative dialogue within the study of the archaeology of dress and the body in antiquity, from the Neolithic era through the Roman Empire.
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Books and Journals by Courtney A. Ward
Publications by Courtney A. Ward
The article looks at archaeological, artistic, and literary evidence to show that female jewellery displayed more than just wealth. Jewellery was also an indicator of age, ethnicity, and political, marital and social status, as is evidenced by the fact that women from different socio-economic backgrounds wore similar forms (and even materials) of jewellery to display other shared aspects of their identity.
Conferences and Sessions Organised by Courtney A. Ward
The one-day workshop brings together scholars studying ancient jewellery and personal adornment with the goal of not only discussing current perspectives and new methodologies but also to create a platform of interdisciplinary exchange for the study of such material. The workshop is divided into three sections: scientific, methodological and social approaches to the study of ancient jewellery. The papers in these sections are from a variety of temporal and cultural areas of ancient adornment to bring out wider methodological approaches to the study of ancient jewellery that might be applied to other periods and cultural situations.
Thesis by Courtney A. Ward
This study focuses on the 45 skeletons with associated personal adornment that have been excavated from secure contexts in Herculaneum, Pompeii and Oplontis. This material comprises men and women of various ages and different socio-economic backgrounds, and multiple jewellery types (necklaces, finger-rings, bracelets, earrings and hairnets) in a variety of material, such as gold, silver, bronze, bone and glass. Despite the wealth of this material and its potential for the study of gender identity, most studies have continued to view this material in isolation. This thesis argues that studies should look beyond the age and sex of a skeleton or the typology of a piece of jewellery, and examine this material in its broader social, cultural and historical contexts. I conclude that the use and display of personal adornment was integral in creating the gender identities of men and women during the first century AD, and that although the full study of the skeletal remains and associated finds from undisturbed contexts is the optimal research framework, even after decades of study and excavation, and indeed lost contextual associations, fresh inferences about the gender identity and/or socio-economic status of individuals may nonetheless be drawn.
Papers Presented by Courtney A. Ward
An oftft-cited quotation by Livy (34.8–9) clearly states that jewellery and adorn- ment were ‘a woman’s badges of honour,’ equal to the highest military and political honours of prominent men. Moreover, in certain periods motherhood was clearly linked with the right to wear specifific items of jewellery (e.g., Ulp. 13–16; Gaius Inst. 1.145, 1.195, 2.111, 2.86–86a). Was motherhood, then, one of the deeds for which such ‘badges of honour’ were awarded?
To accomplish its aims, this paper will look at the jewellery assemblages found alongside the skeletal remains of victims flfleeing from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE – in particular, the remains of two young women found at the House of Ju- lius Polybius in Pompeii and at Oplontis B. Both were discovered with foetuses in their abdominal cavities and in possession of similar packages of adornment. This material will be supplemented with evidence from the wider Roman world, includ- ing funerary assemblages associated with so-called mors immatura and Egyptian dowries and mummy portraits. Overall, this paper will focus on the identifification of specifific ‘packages of adornment’ from the fifirst century CE that clearly identifified their wearers as young, married Roman mothers.
The pyramid of C. Cestius provides an ideal cast study. Located at a prominent intersection of the Via Ostiensis, the pyramid tomb of C. Cestius (12-18 BC) survives almost in its original state. Moreover, the tomb contains an inscription detailing that the construction was completed in 330 days. This case therefore allows us to investigate what this statement implies regarding the labour/material requirements required for such a build and whether this was as impressive a feat as the inscription implies. It also brings into focus the social implications of these large-scale funerary monuments not only for the landscape but also for the economy of Rome.
The article looks at archaeological, artistic, and literary evidence to show that female jewellery displayed more than just wealth. Jewellery was also an indicator of age, ethnicity, and political, marital and social status, as is evidenced by the fact that women from different socio-economic backgrounds wore similar forms (and even materials) of jewellery to display other shared aspects of their identity.
The one-day workshop brings together scholars studying ancient jewellery and personal adornment with the goal of not only discussing current perspectives and new methodologies but also to create a platform of interdisciplinary exchange for the study of such material. The workshop is divided into three sections: scientific, methodological and social approaches to the study of ancient jewellery. The papers in these sections are from a variety of temporal and cultural areas of ancient adornment to bring out wider methodological approaches to the study of ancient jewellery that might be applied to other periods and cultural situations.
This study focuses on the 45 skeletons with associated personal adornment that have been excavated from secure contexts in Herculaneum, Pompeii and Oplontis. This material comprises men and women of various ages and different socio-economic backgrounds, and multiple jewellery types (necklaces, finger-rings, bracelets, earrings and hairnets) in a variety of material, such as gold, silver, bronze, bone and glass. Despite the wealth of this material and its potential for the study of gender identity, most studies have continued to view this material in isolation. This thesis argues that studies should look beyond the age and sex of a skeleton or the typology of a piece of jewellery, and examine this material in its broader social, cultural and historical contexts. I conclude that the use and display of personal adornment was integral in creating the gender identities of men and women during the first century AD, and that although the full study of the skeletal remains and associated finds from undisturbed contexts is the optimal research framework, even after decades of study and excavation, and indeed lost contextual associations, fresh inferences about the gender identity and/or socio-economic status of individuals may nonetheless be drawn.
An oftft-cited quotation by Livy (34.8–9) clearly states that jewellery and adorn- ment were ‘a woman’s badges of honour,’ equal to the highest military and political honours of prominent men. Moreover, in certain periods motherhood was clearly linked with the right to wear specifific items of jewellery (e.g., Ulp. 13–16; Gaius Inst. 1.145, 1.195, 2.111, 2.86–86a). Was motherhood, then, one of the deeds for which such ‘badges of honour’ were awarded?
To accomplish its aims, this paper will look at the jewellery assemblages found alongside the skeletal remains of victims flfleeing from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE – in particular, the remains of two young women found at the House of Ju- lius Polybius in Pompeii and at Oplontis B. Both were discovered with foetuses in their abdominal cavities and in possession of similar packages of adornment. This material will be supplemented with evidence from the wider Roman world, includ- ing funerary assemblages associated with so-called mors immatura and Egyptian dowries and mummy portraits. Overall, this paper will focus on the identifification of specifific ‘packages of adornment’ from the fifirst century CE that clearly identifified their wearers as young, married Roman mothers.
The pyramid of C. Cestius provides an ideal cast study. Located at a prominent intersection of the Via Ostiensis, the pyramid tomb of C. Cestius (12-18 BC) survives almost in its original state. Moreover, the tomb contains an inscription detailing that the construction was completed in 330 days. This case therefore allows us to investigate what this statement implies regarding the labour/material requirements required for such a build and whether this was as impressive a feat as the inscription implies. It also brings into focus the social implications of these large-scale funerary monuments not only for the landscape but also for the economy of Rome.
This paper will draw on a number of examples of re-carved architectural elements to discuss three main aspects of transformative recycling. First, which types of architectural blocks best lent themselves to re-use: entablature blocks, columns, capitals, etc. The object in its original phase must have had larger dimensions than in the secondary phase, thus limiting the possibilities of transformation. Are there patterns to re-carving? Are certain architectural pieces more likely to be transformed into certain objects? Secondly, what can we say about where these materials came from and how they were acquired. The size of adult-sarcophagi (often with dimensions of over 2 x 1 x 1 meters), for example, would have required entablature blocks of considerable size, suggesting the blocks has been sourced from public buildings. Finally, what do such activities reveal about the extent of recycling during the Roman period. It will be argued that the relative quantity of examples suggests that the practice could have been more pervasive during this period than has thus far been acknowledged.
Overall this paper will demonstrate that architectural materials were re-used for a variety of purposes quite different from their original function. The intrinstic value and availability of marble led Roman craftsmen to ultilize second-hand sources, especially when this re-use would have been invisible in the final product.