My main field of interest are pre-Roman Celto-
Germanic societies in NW Europe and their integration into the Roman empire. I was trained as an archaeologist, but I am trying to employ an historical-anthropological perspective. At this moment I am preparing a study on the gold circulation and imperial power in the Late Roman North, and on Caesar's Gallic conquest and the archaeology of mass violence and genocide. Address: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
FERNÁNDEZ-GÖTZ, M. and Roymans, N. (2024): Archaeology of the Roman Conquest: Tracing the Legions, Reclaiming the Conquered. Cambridge University Press, New York. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009182003
This Element volume provides an up-to-date synthesis of the archaeology of the Roman conquest, co... more This Element volume provides an up-to-date synthesis of the archaeology of the Roman conquest, combining new theoretical and methodological approaches with the latest fieldwork results. Recent advances in conflict archaeology research are revolutionising our knowledge of Rome's military campaigns in Western and Central Europe, allowing scholars to reassess the impact of the conquest on the indigenous populations. The volume explores different types of material evidence for the Roman wars of conquest, including temporary camps, battlefields, coinage production, and regional settlement patterns. These and other topics are examined using four case studies: Caesar's Gallic Wars, the Cantabrian and Asturian Wars, the Germanic Wars of Augustus, and the Roman conquest of Britain. By focusing on the 'dark sides' of the Roman expansion and reclaiming the memory of the conquered, the Element aims to contribute to a more holistic understanding of the processes of incorporation and integration into the Roman Empire.
REVIEWS:
"Archaeology of the Roman Conquest is an entirely convincing reevaluation of the violent actions undertaken by Roman commanders as they conquered substantial areas of Western Europe and of the variable responses of local communities to these invasions. It will become required reading for anyone interested in the assimilation of these peoples into the Roman Empire". Prof. Richard Hingley - Durham University
"The Roman conquest of Western Europe is well-studied by generations of scholars. The authors nevertheless succeed in providing new insights into a history that is still highly topical today". Dr. Stefan Burmeister - Museum und Park Kalkriese
In the past two decades, conflict archaeology has become firmly established as a promising field ... more In the past two decades, conflict archaeology has become firmly established as a promising field of research, as reflected in publications, symposia, conference sessions and fieldwork projects. It has its origins in the study of battlefields and other conflict-related phenomena in the modern Era, but numerous studies show that this theme, and at least some of its methods, techniques and theories, are also relevant for older historic and even prehistoric periods. This book presents a series of case studies on conflict archaeology in ancient Europe, based on the results of both recent fieldwork and a reassessment of older excavations. The chronological framework spans from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity, and the geographical scope from Iberia to Scandinavia. Along with key battlefields such as the Tollense Valley, Baecula, Alesia, Kalkriese and Harzhorn, the volume also incorporates many other sources of evidence that can be directly related to past conflict scenarios, including defensive works, military camps, battle-related ritual deposits and symbolic representations of violence in iconography and grave goods. The aim is to explore the material evidence for the study of warfare, and to provide new theoretical and methodological insights into the archaeology of mass violence in ancient Europe and beyond. Cover images: finds from the Thorsberger Moor (photo: Archäologisches Landesmuseum Schleswig, Schloss Gottorf); woman depicted in a scene of confrontation from the Neolithic site of El Civil (Valltorta, Castellón) (photo: E. López-Montalvo); Bronze Age skeletal remains under excavation at the Tollense Valley.
Over een donkere kant van het Romeinse rijk. De veroveringsoorlogen in de Nedergermaanse grenszon... more Over een donkere kant van het Romeinse rijk. De veroveringsoorlogen in de Nedergermaanse grenszone en hun impact op inheemse samenlevingen.
A Roman massacre in the far north. Caesar’s annihilation of the Tencteri and Usipetes in the Dutch river area, in M. Fernández-Götz/N. Roymans (eds), Conflict archaeology. Materialities of collective violence in late prehistoric and early historic Europe, 167-181., 2018
A Roman massacre in the far north. Caesar’s annihilation of the Tencteri and Usipetes in the Dutc... more A Roman massacre in the far north. Caesar’s annihilation of the Tencteri and Usipetes in the Dutch river area, in M. Fernández-Götz/N. Roymans (eds), Conflict archaeology. Materialities of collective violence in late prehistoric and early historic Europe, 167-181.
In: V. Guichard (ed.), Continuités et discontinuités à la fin du IIe siècle avant notre ère dans l’espace celtique et à sa périphérie (Collection Bibracte 32) Bibracte, 227-240., 2023
This paper explores the role of long-term environmental problems among the societies inhabiting t... more This paper explores the role of long-term environmental problems among the societies inhabiting the Pleistocene sand landscapes of the Northwest European Plain and their possible relationship with the historically documented Cimbrian migrations of the late 2nd century BC. My main point will be that for a proper understanding of the Cimbrian migrations, and of a set of related changes in the social-economic sphere, it is important to consider the long-term effects of soil degradation. Key terms in my argumentation are sand landscapes, Celtic field agriculture, soil degradation, population pressure, societal stress, social responses and resilience strategies.
Abstract: Romano-Frankish interaction in the Lower Rhine frontier zone from the late 3rd to the 5... more Abstract: Romano-Frankish interaction in the Lower Rhine frontier zone from the late 3rd to the 5th century – Some key archaeological trends explored This paper presents a case study on the development of the Lower Rhine region from the late 3rd to the 5th century AD. The focus is on the province of Germania secunda and the adjacent areas east and north of the Rhine with a special attention for the RomanoFrankish interaction. Four interrelated themes are discussed: 1. the widespread depopulation of the countryside in the northern half of Germania secunda in the late 3rd century; 2. the question of the Limesfall in the same period; 3. the influx of new Frankish immigrant groups in the late 4th and early 5th century, and 4. the draining of Roman gold to the Lower Rhine frontier in the same phase. On the basis of these developments we gain a better picture of the rise and transformation of Frankish groups. These groups underwent a process of increasing hierarchisation and militarisation during the Late Roman period and this process was closely tied to intense interaction – both friendly and hostile – with the Roman Empire. From this perspective, the Franks can be regarded as a ‘product’ of the Late Roman frontier.
FERNÁNDEZ-GÖTZ, M. and Roymans, N. (2024): Archaeology of the Roman Conquest: Tracing the Legions, Reclaiming the Conquered. Cambridge University Press, New York. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009182003
This Element volume provides an up-to-date synthesis of the archaeology of the Roman conquest, co... more This Element volume provides an up-to-date synthesis of the archaeology of the Roman conquest, combining new theoretical and methodological approaches with the latest fieldwork results. Recent advances in conflict archaeology research are revolutionising our knowledge of Rome's military campaigns in Western and Central Europe, allowing scholars to reassess the impact of the conquest on the indigenous populations. The volume explores different types of material evidence for the Roman wars of conquest, including temporary camps, battlefields, coinage production, and regional settlement patterns. These and other topics are examined using four case studies: Caesar's Gallic Wars, the Cantabrian and Asturian Wars, the Germanic Wars of Augustus, and the Roman conquest of Britain. By focusing on the 'dark sides' of the Roman expansion and reclaiming the memory of the conquered, the Element aims to contribute to a more holistic understanding of the processes of incorporation and integration into the Roman Empire.
REVIEWS:
"Archaeology of the Roman Conquest is an entirely convincing reevaluation of the violent actions undertaken by Roman commanders as they conquered substantial areas of Western Europe and of the variable responses of local communities to these invasions. It will become required reading for anyone interested in the assimilation of these peoples into the Roman Empire". Prof. Richard Hingley - Durham University
"The Roman conquest of Western Europe is well-studied by generations of scholars. The authors nevertheless succeed in providing new insights into a history that is still highly topical today". Dr. Stefan Burmeister - Museum und Park Kalkriese
In the past two decades, conflict archaeology has become firmly established as a promising field ... more In the past two decades, conflict archaeology has become firmly established as a promising field of research, as reflected in publications, symposia, conference sessions and fieldwork projects. It has its origins in the study of battlefields and other conflict-related phenomena in the modern Era, but numerous studies show that this theme, and at least some of its methods, techniques and theories, are also relevant for older historic and even prehistoric periods. This book presents a series of case studies on conflict archaeology in ancient Europe, based on the results of both recent fieldwork and a reassessment of older excavations. The chronological framework spans from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity, and the geographical scope from Iberia to Scandinavia. Along with key battlefields such as the Tollense Valley, Baecula, Alesia, Kalkriese and Harzhorn, the volume also incorporates many other sources of evidence that can be directly related to past conflict scenarios, including defensive works, military camps, battle-related ritual deposits and symbolic representations of violence in iconography and grave goods. The aim is to explore the material evidence for the study of warfare, and to provide new theoretical and methodological insights into the archaeology of mass violence in ancient Europe and beyond. Cover images: finds from the Thorsberger Moor (photo: Archäologisches Landesmuseum Schleswig, Schloss Gottorf); woman depicted in a scene of confrontation from the Neolithic site of El Civil (Valltorta, Castellón) (photo: E. López-Montalvo); Bronze Age skeletal remains under excavation at the Tollense Valley.
Over een donkere kant van het Romeinse rijk. De veroveringsoorlogen in de Nedergermaanse grenszon... more Over een donkere kant van het Romeinse rijk. De veroveringsoorlogen in de Nedergermaanse grenszone en hun impact op inheemse samenlevingen.
A Roman massacre in the far north. Caesar’s annihilation of the Tencteri and Usipetes in the Dutch river area, in M. Fernández-Götz/N. Roymans (eds), Conflict archaeology. Materialities of collective violence in late prehistoric and early historic Europe, 167-181., 2018
A Roman massacre in the far north. Caesar’s annihilation of the Tencteri and Usipetes in the Dutc... more A Roman massacre in the far north. Caesar’s annihilation of the Tencteri and Usipetes in the Dutch river area, in M. Fernández-Götz/N. Roymans (eds), Conflict archaeology. Materialities of collective violence in late prehistoric and early historic Europe, 167-181.
In: V. Guichard (ed.), Continuités et discontinuités à la fin du IIe siècle avant notre ère dans l’espace celtique et à sa périphérie (Collection Bibracte 32) Bibracte, 227-240., 2023
This paper explores the role of long-term environmental problems among the societies inhabiting t... more This paper explores the role of long-term environmental problems among the societies inhabiting the Pleistocene sand landscapes of the Northwest European Plain and their possible relationship with the historically documented Cimbrian migrations of the late 2nd century BC. My main point will be that for a proper understanding of the Cimbrian migrations, and of a set of related changes in the social-economic sphere, it is important to consider the long-term effects of soil degradation. Key terms in my argumentation are sand landscapes, Celtic field agriculture, soil degradation, population pressure, societal stress, social responses and resilience strategies.
Abstract: Romano-Frankish interaction in the Lower Rhine frontier zone from the late 3rd to the 5... more Abstract: Romano-Frankish interaction in the Lower Rhine frontier zone from the late 3rd to the 5th century – Some key archaeological trends explored This paper presents a case study on the development of the Lower Rhine region from the late 3rd to the 5th century AD. The focus is on the province of Germania secunda and the adjacent areas east and north of the Rhine with a special attention for the RomanoFrankish interaction. Four interrelated themes are discussed: 1. the widespread depopulation of the countryside in the northern half of Germania secunda in the late 3rd century; 2. the question of the Limesfall in the same period; 3. the influx of new Frankish immigrant groups in the late 4th and early 5th century, and 4. the draining of Roman gold to the Lower Rhine frontier in the same phase. On the basis of these developments we gain a better picture of the rise and transformation of Frankish groups. These groups underwent a process of increasing hierarchisation and militarisation during the Late Roman period and this process was closely tied to intense interaction – both friendly and hostile – with the Roman Empire. From this perspective, the Franks can be regarded as a ‘product’ of the Late Roman frontier.
The introduction of money in the form of standardised objects of value made of metal and bearing ... more The introduction of money in the form of standardised objects of value made of metal and bearing images marked a new phenomenon in the pre-Roman societies of Western and Central Europe. In the Late Iron Age, the Lower Rhine region formed part of the northern peripheral zone of the La Tene culture, whose influence in this region has emerged as stronger than was previously thought. This is reflected among other things in the large numbers of ‘Celtic’ coins from this region. Although very little was known about these coins until about , the number of coins in the archaeological record, as well as what we know about them, has increased dramatically in recent decades. This study seeks to survey these earliest coinages in the Lower Rhine region. We start with a few introductory remarks about the development of Celtic numismatics, and follow with a discussion of the research potential of coins from the Lower Rhine region. We then survey the evolution of coinage and coin production in t...
In 2018 and 2019 amateur metal detectorists reported the find of Late Iron Age silver coins at th... more In 2018 and 2019 amateur metal detectorists reported the find of Late Iron Age silver coins at three locations in Graetheide in the Dutch province of Limburg. In November 2018 archaeologists from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands carried out small-scale control excavations at two sites. The investigations show that we are dealing with small coin hoards of silver ‘rainbow staters’, a coin type that circulated in the Lower Rhine / Meuse region in the mid-1st century BC. The new finds confirm that there was a significant regional peak in the hoarding of precious metal coins during this period. The peak can be dated to the 50s BC, suggesting a link with Caesar’s military campaigns. In his De Bello Gallico, the Roman general describes at length how – in 53 and again in 51 BC – his legions plundered and burned the territory of the Eburones with the aim of totally annihilating the tribe. The gold and silver hoards can be regarded as silent testimony to a dramatic episode in the history of the Roman empire’s Lower Germanic frontier zone.
FERNÁNDEZ-GÖTZ, M.; Maschek, D. and Roymans, N. (2020): The Dark Side of the Empire: Roman Expansionism between Object Agency and Predatory Regime. Antiquity 94(378): 1630-1639. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.125
This debate piece offers a critique of some recent ‘new materialist’ approaches and their applica... more This debate piece offers a critique of some recent ‘new materialist’ approaches and their application to Roman expansionism, particularly those positing that the study of ‘Romanisation’ should be about ‘understanding objects in motion’—a perspective that carries important political and ethical implications. Here, the authors introduce the alternative notion of a ‘predatory’ political economy for conceptualising Late Republican and Early Imperial Rome. The aim is to illuminate the darker sides of Roman expansionism in order to produce more balanced and inclusive accounts. Two cases studies—the archaeology of the Roman conquest and of rural communities—illustrate the potential of such a perspective.
V.T. van Vilsteren et al. (eds), Overpeinzingen op een vuilnisbelt. Liber amicorum Wijnand van der Sanden, Groningen., 2020
Since the publication of the article ‘Celtic coins in the Netherlands and their archaeological co... more Since the publication of the article ‘Celtic coins in the Netherlands and their archaeological context’ by Wijnand van der Sanden and the present author in 1980 we know that native communities in the southern part of the Netherlands were already familiar with coinage on the eve of the Roman conquest of this area. The present article discusses a specific group of pre-Roman coins, i.e. the gold coins or ‘staters’ of type Scheers 31, which can be attributed to the Eburones on the basis of their distribution and date in the 50s BC. This group of coins offers interesting possibilities for historicising interpretations, in particular with respect to Caesar’s activities in the Low Countries. The coins seem to have been struck during the crisis of the Roman conquest, probably somewhere in the region between the towns of Tongeren and Maastricht. We can only speculate about the exact location of the mint, but at present the village of Berg directly to the east of Tongeren would seem to be the most likely candidate.
This paper studies rural populations in the Roman frontier province of Germania inferior, employi... more This paper studies rural populations in the Roman frontier province of Germania inferior, employing a perspective that allocates more space to the exploitative and repressive aspects of Roman rule. We draw attention to an alternative series of topics than the ones currently presented in rural archaeology. This includes attention to situations of crisis and instability, to fundamental reordering of rural populations, to issues of migration and to the interconnectivity of rural developments and imperial power structures. While these topics are usually considered as 'historically given', they are rarely the subject of serious archaeological research. This attempt at a more historicising approach does not mean a simple return to the traditional paradigm of historische Altertumskunde. Much better equipped than our predecessors of two or three generations ago, we archaeologists of the 21st century are able to engage in a critical and creative dialogue with historical sources and models.
The Late Republican to Early Imperial period was one of spectacular territorial expansion into th... more The Late Republican to Early Imperial period was one of spectacular territorial expansion into the surrounding ‘tribal periphery’ of the Roman West. There, the indigenous societies were confronted with state-organised warfare on an unprecedented scale and with a range of new military technologies and strategies. The direct societal impact of conquest on the subjected groups varied greatly. Conquest could strengthen certain polities and stimulate processes of state formation, but it could have disastrous effects on other groups. Here I will investigate Roman warfare in the tribal zone, with a special focus on two topics: the use of extreme mass violence against resistant groups, and the relationship between disproportional use of violence and negative ethnic stereotyping of the ‘tribal other’. I hope to show that archaeology can contribute to a wider debate on these topics among historians and anthropologists1 by assessing the short-term demographic impact of conquest.
This major international conference, to be held at the British Museum on Friday 11th March and Sa... more This major international conference, to be held at the British Museum on Friday 11th March and Saturday 12th March 2016, will explore the deposition and hoarding of coins and other artefacts in later prehistoric and Roman Britain and Europe, and will critically reexamine the evidence for social, economic and political instability during the third century AD.
Papers will cover a range of diverse topics including the evidence for ‘ritual’ deposition in the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age, the significance of landscape to Iron Age and Roman hoarding practices, hoarding and status at rural sites in the Romano-British countryside, the Piercebridge Roman river metalwork deposits, Britain and the continent in the 3rd century AD, hoarding inside and outside the Empire in northern Europe during the Roman period, Carausius, Allectus and the British Empire, and hoarding patterns and monetary change.
In addition, on the evening of Friday 11th March, Philip de Jersey will be giving a public lecture on the recent finding and excavation of the large hoard of Iron Age coinage, torcs and other objects on the island of Jersey.
The conference and the evening lecture are all free, but booking is essential, via the British Museum events website.
Conflict archaeology is a new and promising field of research which has developed rapidly over th... more Conflict archaeology is a new and promising field of research which has developed rapidly over the past two decades, as reflected in numerous publications, symposia, excavations and the application of new methods and technologies. This distinctive branch of archaeology focuses on the material manifestations of human violence from prehistory to the 21st century. The wider spatial and temporal dimensions of warfare and conflict, however, appear to be relatively underexplored themes; most research is site-based and related to a specific period or conflict.. The goal of this session is to explore the advances in conflict archaeology by a consideration of the wider scales of analysis in a spatial as well as a temporal sense. Where are the edges of conflicts and wars? How essential is the availability of historical sources? How can we study long-term trends? A consideration of ‘conflict landscapes’ might serve to re-focus work away from individual battles to explore the interrelationship between different spatial elements. Landscapes of conflict consist of more than just battlefields, but also include military encampments, airfields, practice areas, ammunition depots, and crucially, civilian settlements. From a temporal perspective conflict archaeology is a fragmented field of research with relatively poor interaction between those working in different time periods. There is a need, however, to explore long-term developments that cross-cut traditional chronological boundaries around themes like ‘warfare and ritual’, combat strategies, post-battle activities at conflict sites, the impact of warfare on trade, urban and rural communities, and the issue of displaced persons The objective of this session is to offer: • Case studies that focus on landscapes of conflict. • Case studies that explore long-term developments in warfare and collective violence. • Studies exploring the potentials and limitations of new methodologies and techniques with regard to the above themes
The archaeological study of conflict (from battlefields to military infrastructure and massacre s... more The archaeological study of conflict (from battlefields to military infrastructure and massacre sites) has been experiencing an exponential growth in the last few decades. However, most of the research is focused on the actual moment of conflict rather than on the short, medium and long-term consequences. In this session, we would like to focus on the period after major military events, in particular-although not exclusively-episodes of conquest. What was the demographic impact of war, and how and when did population figures recover (if they did)? Are there evidences for violence and repression in the years/decades after the conquest? Can we see major transformations in social structure or rather elements of continuity? What was the impact of conflict on the landscape and on settlement patterns? Do we observe phenomena of population mobility (for example forced relocation of groups) after war? We welcome papers that discuss these and other related questions, both on a theoretical-methodological level and through specific case studies. The chronological framework of the session encompasses from late prehistory to the early modern period, as we aim to have a wide range of contributions that provide elements for comparison and wider reflection.
The archaeological study of conflict (from battlefields to military infrastructure and massacre s... more The archaeological study of conflict (from battlefields to military infrastructure and massacre sites) has been experiencing an exponential growth in the last few decades. However, most of the research is focused on the actual moment of conflict rather than on the short, medium and long-term consequences. In this session, we would like to focus on the period after major military events, in particular – although not exclusively – episodes of conquest. What was the demographic impact of war, and how and when did population figures recover (if they did)? Are there evidences for violence and repression in the years/decades after the conquest? Can we see major transformations in social structure or rather elements of continuity? What was the impact of conflict on the landscape and on settlement patterns? Do we observe phenomena of population mobility (for example forced relocation of groups) after war? We welcome papers that discuss these and other related questions, both on a theoretical-methodological level and through specific case studies. The chronological framework of the session encompasses from late prehistory to the early modern period, as we aim to have a wide range of contributions that provide elements for comparison and wider reflection.
The study of migration is essential for understanding the earliest phases of the Roman period in ... more The study of migration is essential for understanding the earliest phases of the Roman period in the Lower Rhine delta. This paper applies an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, combining and comparing historical, archaeological and science-based evidence and methodologies, allowing a more detailed reconstruction of immigration during this period. Our study suggests that various groups migrated to our region, probably over a longer period of time, originating from different regions and arriving in a land with a (probably limited) residual population. This marked and varied immigration should be understood in the context of Roman frontier policy and the (ethnic) recruitment of Germanic groups by the Roman military.
De 'vorstengraven' uit de ijzertijd - zoals die van Oss, Nijmegen en Wijchen - behoren zonder twi... more De 'vorstengraven' uit de ijzertijd - zoals die van Oss, Nijmegen en Wijchen - behoren zonder twijfel tot de bekendste en meest aansprekende vondsten uit de Nederlandse prehistorie. In deze elitegraven zijn de gecremeerde lichamen van de overleden individuen begraven met bijzondere grafgoederen: door paarden getrokken wagens, bronzen vaatwerk en indrukwekkende wapens zoals zwaarden en speren. We kunnen daar nu een nieuwe topvondst aan toevoegen, namelijk een elitegraf ontdekt in de gemeente Heumen, dat in de vijfde eeuw voor Christus kan worden geplaatst op de overgang van de late Hallstatt- naar de vroeg La Tène-periode. De Heumense grafvondst staat niet op zichzelf, maar maakt deel uit van een bredere groep van elitegraven uit het begin van de midden ijzertijd in de Lage Landen. Op dit moment werken we met een groep archeologen uit Nederland en België aan een overzicht van deze groep graven. Dit artikel biedt een eerste overzicht van de inhoud, context en betekenis van het Heumense graf.
This debate piece offers a critique of some recent 'new materialist' approaches and their applica... more This debate piece offers a critique of some recent 'new materialist' approaches and their application to Roman expansionism, particularly those positing that the study of 'Romanisation' should be about 'understanding objects in motion' - a perspective that carries important political and ethical implications. Here, the authors introduce the alternative notion of a 'predatory' political economy for conceptualising Late Republican and Early Imperial Rome. The aim is to illuminate the darker sides of Roman expansionism in order to produce more balanced and inclusive accounts. Two case studies - the archaeology of the Roman conquest and of rural communities - illustrate the potential of such a perspective.
Kelten. Jaarboek Stichting A. G. van Hamel voor Keltische Studies., 2022
Recensie G. Anthoons, Iron Age chariot burials in Britain and the Near Continent. Networks of mob... more Recensie G. Anthoons, Iron Age chariot burials in Britain and the Near Continent. Networks of mobility, exchange and belief in the third and second centuries BC.
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REVIEWS:
"Archaeology of the Roman Conquest is an entirely convincing reevaluation of the violent actions undertaken by Roman commanders as they conquered substantial areas of Western Europe and of the variable responses of local communities to these invasions. It will become required reading for anyone interested in the assimilation of these peoples into the Roman Empire". Prof. Richard Hingley - Durham University
"The Roman conquest of Western Europe is well-studied by generations of scholars. The authors nevertheless succeed in providing new insights into a history that is still highly topical today". Dr. Stefan Burmeister - Museum und Park Kalkriese
REVIEWS:
"Archaeology of the Roman Conquest is an entirely convincing reevaluation of the violent actions undertaken by Roman commanders as they conquered substantial areas of Western Europe and of the variable responses of local communities to these invasions. It will become required reading for anyone interested in the assimilation of these peoples into the Roman Empire". Prof. Richard Hingley - Durham University
"The Roman conquest of Western Europe is well-studied by generations of scholars. The authors nevertheless succeed in providing new insights into a history that is still highly topical today". Dr. Stefan Burmeister - Museum und Park Kalkriese
Papers will cover a range of diverse topics including the evidence for ‘ritual’ deposition in the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age, the significance of landscape to Iron Age and Roman hoarding practices, hoarding and status at rural sites in the Romano-British countryside, the Piercebridge Roman river metalwork deposits, Britain and the continent in the 3rd century AD, hoarding inside and outside the Empire in northern Europe during the Roman period, Carausius, Allectus and the British Empire, and hoarding patterns and monetary change.
In addition, on the evening of Friday 11th March, Philip de Jersey will be giving a public lecture on the recent finding and excavation of the large hoard of Iron Age coinage, torcs and other objects on the island of Jersey.
The conference and the evening lecture are all free, but booking is essential, via the British Museum events website.
The goal of this session is to explore the advances in conflict archaeology by a consideration of the wider scales of analysis in a spatial as well as a temporal sense. Where are the edges of conflicts and wars? How essential is the availability of historical sources? How can we study long-term trends? A consideration of ‘conflict landscapes’ might serve to re-focus work away from individual battles to explore the interrelationship between different spatial elements. Landscapes of conflict consist of more than just battlefields, but also include military encampments, airfields, practice areas, ammunition depots, and crucially, civilian settlements. From a temporal perspective conflict archaeology is a fragmented field of research with relatively poor interaction between those working in different time periods. There is a need, however, to explore long-term developments that cross-cut traditional chronological boundaries around themes like ‘warfare and ritual’, combat strategies, post-battle activities at conflict sites, the impact of warfare on trade, urban and rural communities, and the issue of displaced persons
The objective of this session is to offer:
• Case studies that focus on landscapes of conflict.
• Case studies that explore long-term developments in warfare and collective violence.
• Studies exploring the potentials and limitations of new methodologies and techniques with regard to the above themes
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-the-archaeology-of-roman-germany-9780199665730?cc=de&lang=en&
focus on the period after major military events, in particular – although not exclusively – episodes of conquest. What was the demographic impact of war, and how and when did population figures recover (if they did)? Are there evidences for violence and repression in the years/decades after the conquest? Can we see major transformations in social structure or rather elements of continuity? What was the impact of conflict on the landscape and on settlement patterns? Do we observe phenomena of population mobility (for example forced relocation of groups) after war? We welcome papers that discuss these and other related questions, both on a theoretical-methodological level and through specific case studies. The chronological framework of the session encompasses from late prehistory to the early modern period, as we aim to have a wide range of contributions that provide elements for comparison and wider reflection.