Books by Paul S Johnson
University of Cambridge Museum of Classical Archaeology Monograph Series No. 2.
In the past 30 years archaeological field survey has become central to the practise of Classical ... more In the past 30 years archaeological field survey has become central to the practise of Classical Archaeology. During this time, approaches have developed from the systematic collection of artefacts to include the routine deployment of various geophysical and remote sensing techniques. The ability of archaeologists to reveal the topography of buried urban sites without excavation has now been demonstrated through a wide range of projects across the ancient world. Archaeological Survey and the City reviews the results of such projects and in particular discusses the ways in which the subject might develop in the future, with an emphasis on the integration of different strands of evidence and issues of archaeological interpretation rather than on the technicalities of particular methodologies. Several themes emerge from the fourteen papers. The first is the increasing number of large-area surveys providing data at a sufficient scale to make a significant contribution to our understanding of classical cities both in the Mediterranean and beyond (eg Baelo Claudia, Caistor-by-Norwich, Xanten, Ammaia). The second theme is the generation of new types of data through the application of specific techniques to address particular questions pertaining to urban life, for instance in identifying particular industrial processes such as metal-working (eg Munigua, Wroxeter) or the increasing success in isolating cemeteries (eg Silchester). The techniques involved in identifying these phenomena complement the use of geochemical survey to characterise particular soil properties related to animal husbandry, cultivation or the creation of domestic waste deposits (eg Faleri Veteres), an area which has considerable future potential. A third theme lies in the application and integration of multiple techniques to provide new dimensions to the information available. The data from a number of survey projects have demonstrated that a single survey technique will rarely, if ever, reveal all of the potential information so there is a significant benefit to be derived from applying multiple survey-strategies to the questions being asked of a site. These themes emphasise the dynamism of research in this area, which continues to revolutionise the study of ancient cities.
Articles & book chapters by Paul S Johnson
Ammaia I: the survey. A Romano-Lusitanian townscape revealed., 2013
Conference Presentations by Paul S Johnson
The agenda for the study of Roman urbanism as defined by Laurence et al. (2011, The City in the R... more The agenda for the study of Roman urbanism as defined by Laurence et al. (2011, The City in the Roman West), should encourage a critical reappraisal of how we use different forms of archaeological evidence to investigate the nature of Roman urbanism through the structural remains of towns. Well preserved and extensively studied sites such as Pompeii and Ostia continue to condition, and constrain, the research agenda for Roman urbanism. The increased availability of geophysical data offers a different perspective to that from excavated evidence, through which to examine Roman urban life. The need for better developed research agendas in archaeological survey have been argued elsewhere (Johnson and Millett 2013, Archaeological Survey and the City), yet in very few cases have surveys engaged with wider social questions. Whereas excavated data provide stratigraphic relationships, depth and context within restricted areas, geophysical survey can offer far greater scale of coverage of both intra- and extramural areas, albeit often at the expense of detailed chronology. Through reference to sites such as Ammaia and Falerii Novi this paper questions how we can use geophysical evidence to define and address current, theoretically-informed, and bold research questions, moving on from past goals and reductive assessments of the regularity of street grids or noting the presence and absence of evidence for public and private buildings.
The use of geophysical data for reconstructing ancient townscapes is, however, anything but unproblematic; the problems inherent in the use of remote sensing techniques need to be discussed and addressed explicitly in order to integrate survey approaches within academic discourse of life in Roman towns. One possible avenue for developing more- robust interpretations of these data can be demonstrated through the successful application of a methodology enabling three-dimensional visualisations of urban space to be created and manipulated easily, quickly, and most importantly through a simple interface by all persons involved in the interpretative process. This technique and technology which adhere to standards for Digital Heritage and Digital Archaeology (the 2009 London Charter and 2011 Seville Principles), were developed through work undertaken at the Roman city of Ammaia (Portugal) as part of the European Union Industry Academic Partnerships and Pathways Fp7 “Radio-Past” project and this paper will discuss the process in relation to the development of interpretations for this site.
"The interpretation of complex urban environments in antiquity can be rendered problematic by a n... more "The interpretation of complex urban environments in antiquity can be rendered problematic by a number of factors. Perhaps most critically, very few Roman cities possess an extensive excavated record and the most fruitful means of enlarging the corpus of known town-plans is currently through non-intrusive methods of remote-sensing and geophysical prospection. The data obtained through the application of these methods present a number of interpretative problems, largely relating to the necessity of recreating and understanding the three-dimensional nature of the archaeological and topographical situation from the predominantly two-dimensional plots and images of the dataset.
This paper demonstrates the successful application of a methodology which enables a three-dimensional visualisation of urban space to be created and manipulated easily, quickly, and most importantly through a simple interface by all persons involved in the production of meaningful interpretations of, primarily but not exclusively, geophysical survey datasets. This process, which was developed as part of the European Union Industry Academic Partnerships and Pathways Fp7 “Radio-Past” project at the site of Ammaia (Portugal), also facilitates dissemination and collaboration between members of research teams and for ideas to be validated within a malleable three-dimensional environment. The methodology offers the possibility to produce a sequence of visualisations, each of which can easily be assessed, modified and, if necessary, discarded without any great outlay of time or resources, and without the need for all members of the team to be familiar with complex 3-D rendering software.
The software platform upon which this methodology is based is the freely available Unity 3d© game-engine, with a bespoke customised interface. This provides a highly intuitive, specialised and user-friendly three-dimensional environment, or “digital-sandbox”. Within this environment multiple datasets can be incorporated including (but not limited to) terrain models, aerial photographs, cartographic data, geophysical survey data and their vectorised interpretative plans. The methodology builds upon these base-maps using an iterative process of increasing detail in the representation of three-dimensional volumes, which can be used to rapidly populate the digital version of the urban area with structures and allow them to be visualised, modified and queried in three-dimensions and in real-time."
Sociological studies of urbanism are able to draw upon a wide range of data-sets to address quest... more Sociological studies of urbanism are able to draw upon a wide range of data-sets to address questions about the nature, meaning and use of modern urban spaces, not all of which are available for the study of ancient towns. The desire of urban planners to replicate conceptual ideals in the fabric of cities resonates across time and the comparatively well developed study of Classical urbanism can offer important and enlightening parallels to inform approaches to urbanism and urban living in other periods.
Traditionally, archaeological studies of Classical towns have, almost without exception, focussed on the importance of understanding the physical fabric of the town. Relatively little attention has been focussed on the intangible characteristics of cities as economic and social spaces which reflect and define the activities of their inhabitants. On the other hand, Graeco-Roman historical sources attest to the symbolic and quasi-religious nature of settlement foundation rites and have largely formed the basis for discussions of Roman urban planning. The means by which ideal urban forms were translated into physical structures can be approached in a number of ways which might help to develop an understanding of the relationship between concept and reality in the planning, foundation, construction, and subsequent modification of ancient cites.
This paper therefore, presents a means of understanding the motivations and decision-making processes implicit in the creation and transformation of urban spaces through time. Of particular importance to the themes of this conference is the relationship between explicitly classicising influences on the urban plans of a number of early-modern towns around the world. By understanding the principles behind the origins of these urban forms we can better evaluate the, sometimes imperfect, adoption and translation of these ideals and ideas into later forms of urbanism and urban-planning.
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Books by Paul S Johnson
Articles & book chapters by Paul S Johnson
Conference Presentations by Paul S Johnson
The use of geophysical data for reconstructing ancient townscapes is, however, anything but unproblematic; the problems inherent in the use of remote sensing techniques need to be discussed and addressed explicitly in order to integrate survey approaches within academic discourse of life in Roman towns. One possible avenue for developing more- robust interpretations of these data can be demonstrated through the successful application of a methodology enabling three-dimensional visualisations of urban space to be created and manipulated easily, quickly, and most importantly through a simple interface by all persons involved in the interpretative process. This technique and technology which adhere to standards for Digital Heritage and Digital Archaeology (the 2009 London Charter and 2011 Seville Principles), were developed through work undertaken at the Roman city of Ammaia (Portugal) as part of the European Union Industry Academic Partnerships and Pathways Fp7 “Radio-Past” project and this paper will discuss the process in relation to the development of interpretations for this site.
This paper demonstrates the successful application of a methodology which enables a three-dimensional visualisation of urban space to be created and manipulated easily, quickly, and most importantly through a simple interface by all persons involved in the production of meaningful interpretations of, primarily but not exclusively, geophysical survey datasets. This process, which was developed as part of the European Union Industry Academic Partnerships and Pathways Fp7 “Radio-Past” project at the site of Ammaia (Portugal), also facilitates dissemination and collaboration between members of research teams and for ideas to be validated within a malleable three-dimensional environment. The methodology offers the possibility to produce a sequence of visualisations, each of which can easily be assessed, modified and, if necessary, discarded without any great outlay of time or resources, and without the need for all members of the team to be familiar with complex 3-D rendering software.
The software platform upon which this methodology is based is the freely available Unity 3d© game-engine, with a bespoke customised interface. This provides a highly intuitive, specialised and user-friendly three-dimensional environment, or “digital-sandbox”. Within this environment multiple datasets can be incorporated including (but not limited to) terrain models, aerial photographs, cartographic data, geophysical survey data and their vectorised interpretative plans. The methodology builds upon these base-maps using an iterative process of increasing detail in the representation of three-dimensional volumes, which can be used to rapidly populate the digital version of the urban area with structures and allow them to be visualised, modified and queried in three-dimensions and in real-time."
Traditionally, archaeological studies of Classical towns have, almost without exception, focussed on the importance of understanding the physical fabric of the town. Relatively little attention has been focussed on the intangible characteristics of cities as economic and social spaces which reflect and define the activities of their inhabitants. On the other hand, Graeco-Roman historical sources attest to the symbolic and quasi-religious nature of settlement foundation rites and have largely formed the basis for discussions of Roman urban planning. The means by which ideal urban forms were translated into physical structures can be approached in a number of ways which might help to develop an understanding of the relationship between concept and reality in the planning, foundation, construction, and subsequent modification of ancient cites.
This paper therefore, presents a means of understanding the motivations and decision-making processes implicit in the creation and transformation of urban spaces through time. Of particular importance to the themes of this conference is the relationship between explicitly classicising influences on the urban plans of a number of early-modern towns around the world. By understanding the principles behind the origins of these urban forms we can better evaluate the, sometimes imperfect, adoption and translation of these ideals and ideas into later forms of urbanism and urban-planning.
The use of geophysical data for reconstructing ancient townscapes is, however, anything but unproblematic; the problems inherent in the use of remote sensing techniques need to be discussed and addressed explicitly in order to integrate survey approaches within academic discourse of life in Roman towns. One possible avenue for developing more- robust interpretations of these data can be demonstrated through the successful application of a methodology enabling three-dimensional visualisations of urban space to be created and manipulated easily, quickly, and most importantly through a simple interface by all persons involved in the interpretative process. This technique and technology which adhere to standards for Digital Heritage and Digital Archaeology (the 2009 London Charter and 2011 Seville Principles), were developed through work undertaken at the Roman city of Ammaia (Portugal) as part of the European Union Industry Academic Partnerships and Pathways Fp7 “Radio-Past” project and this paper will discuss the process in relation to the development of interpretations for this site.
This paper demonstrates the successful application of a methodology which enables a three-dimensional visualisation of urban space to be created and manipulated easily, quickly, and most importantly through a simple interface by all persons involved in the production of meaningful interpretations of, primarily but not exclusively, geophysical survey datasets. This process, which was developed as part of the European Union Industry Academic Partnerships and Pathways Fp7 “Radio-Past” project at the site of Ammaia (Portugal), also facilitates dissemination and collaboration between members of research teams and for ideas to be validated within a malleable three-dimensional environment. The methodology offers the possibility to produce a sequence of visualisations, each of which can easily be assessed, modified and, if necessary, discarded without any great outlay of time or resources, and without the need for all members of the team to be familiar with complex 3-D rendering software.
The software platform upon which this methodology is based is the freely available Unity 3d© game-engine, with a bespoke customised interface. This provides a highly intuitive, specialised and user-friendly three-dimensional environment, or “digital-sandbox”. Within this environment multiple datasets can be incorporated including (but not limited to) terrain models, aerial photographs, cartographic data, geophysical survey data and their vectorised interpretative plans. The methodology builds upon these base-maps using an iterative process of increasing detail in the representation of three-dimensional volumes, which can be used to rapidly populate the digital version of the urban area with structures and allow them to be visualised, modified and queried in three-dimensions and in real-time."
Traditionally, archaeological studies of Classical towns have, almost without exception, focussed on the importance of understanding the physical fabric of the town. Relatively little attention has been focussed on the intangible characteristics of cities as economic and social spaces which reflect and define the activities of their inhabitants. On the other hand, Graeco-Roman historical sources attest to the symbolic and quasi-religious nature of settlement foundation rites and have largely formed the basis for discussions of Roman urban planning. The means by which ideal urban forms were translated into physical structures can be approached in a number of ways which might help to develop an understanding of the relationship between concept and reality in the planning, foundation, construction, and subsequent modification of ancient cites.
This paper therefore, presents a means of understanding the motivations and decision-making processes implicit in the creation and transformation of urban spaces through time. Of particular importance to the themes of this conference is the relationship between explicitly classicising influences on the urban plans of a number of early-modern towns around the world. By understanding the principles behind the origins of these urban forms we can better evaluate the, sometimes imperfect, adoption and translation of these ideals and ideas into later forms of urbanism and urban-planning.
Here we propose an alternative solution which lessens the disconnection between the producer of the archaeological interpretation of the features enabling the archaeologist to perform an interpretative work-flow which places ideas within a malleable three-dimensional environment therefore resulting in a more direct involvement throughout the re-constructive, or representative process.
The software platform that we chose for this purpose is the freely available Unity 3d © game-engine with a customized interface. This provides the archaeologist with a highly intuitive, specialized and easy to use 3D environment. Within this environment a series of datasets can be incorporated including a terrain model, generated maps from aerial photographs, geophysical survey plans and their digitised interpretations. These layers provide the basis for a simple-geometry representation of the interpretation in three-dimensions. The result is a 3D block-representation of the full extent of the studied area (in this case the town) through a rapid process which permits collaborative discussion and an iterative process of refining the interpretation which can easily account for input from a number of operators. This block-model can easily be modified to provide the basis for a more fully detailed 3D model incorporating various building elements which have been fully documented through excavation where available and can be used for other presentations like film, real time and augmented reality productions.
This process will be illustrated through a case study from the Roman town of Ammaia (Alto Alentejo, Portugal) where these processes have been applied to a Roman urban site surveyed with various geophysical techniques. This work was achieved within the project “Radio Past” “Radiography of the past,.integrated non-destructive approaches to understand and valorise complex archaeological sites”funded by the European Union under the Marie Curie Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) program
This paper addresses the archaeological interpretation of the survey results in detail, presenting clearly recognisable structures as case-studies and discussing the process undertaken in determining an archaeological interpretation for areas within the city where the data were more problematic. Through this process I touch on issues such as population density, water supply, the planning of the town and the balance between public and private life for the inhabitants of Ammaia.