Bread and Circuses

Third century battlefield at Kalefeld

Stories are starting to emerge of a Roman/German battlefield in Kalefeld in Lower Saxony. 600 pieces have already been found. What is exciting is that the site dates to the third century and that it is on the wrong side of the Rhine. After the battle of Teutoburg Forest in AD9, it was presumed that the Romans withdrew to their side of the river. At the moment many of the details are being kept under wraps to protect the site from looters.

I have only seen one English report - The Local, Germany's newspaper in English:

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Roman battlefield from the third century near Göttingen that will rewrite history, Lower Saxony's department for preservation of historical monuments said on Thursday.

“The find can be dated to the third century and will definitely change the historical perception of that time,” Dr. Henning Haßmann told The Local.

The amazing discovery allows an insight in what must have been a dramatic battle between Romans and Germanic tribes. “The find indicates a massive Roman military presence,” Haßmann said.

So far historians believed that the battle of the Teutoburg Forest, which took place in 9 AD, resulted in the Roman’s Empire withdrawal from Germania without any further attempt to conquer the land beyond the Rhine River again. But the unearthing of the battleground near the village of Kalefeld proves that Rome didn't give up its expansionary ambitions until much later than previously assumed.

Full story here. For German speakers there is more in Spiegel and at the Hamburger Abendblatt. 

Fifth century Germanic Hall in Rushenden

A boat-shaped, Germanic hall dating to the fifth century has been found in Rushenden, on the Isle of Sheppey. The site is being excavated by Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company. Few details are available but hopefully they will emerge over the next few days.

A fifth century Germanic settlement has been discovered on land set out for regeneration in Kent.

A team of 30 archaeologists has been studying debris at the site in Rushenden, on the Isle of Sheppey, to learn how the original settlers lived.

The remains of a large boat-shaped hall have been found as well as evidence of boat-building activity.

The rest of the story from the BBC here.

Julian enters Constantinople

On this day in 361, the Emperor Julian entered Constantinople. The story is reported by Ammianus (22.2):

When this was presently known at Constantinople, all ages and sexes poured forth, as if to look upon someone sent from heaven. And so Julian was met on the eleventh of December with the respectful attendance of the senate and the unanimous applause of the people, and surrounded by troops of soldiers and citizens he was escorted as if by an army in line of battle, while all eyes were turned upon him, not only with a fixed gaze, but also with great admiration. For it seemed almost like a dream that this young man, just come to his growth, of small stature but conspicuous for great deeds, after the bloodstained destruction of kings and nations had passed from city to city with unlooked‑for speed; that increasing in power and strength wherever he went, he had easily seized upon all places as swiftly as rumour flies, and finally had received the imperial power, bestowed upon him by Heaven's nod without any loss to the state.

Quo apud Constantinopolim mox conperto effundebatur aetas omnis et sexus tamquam demissum aliquem visura de caelo. Exceptus igitur tertium Iduum Decembrium verecundis senatus officiis et popularium consonis plausibus, stipatusque armatorum et togatorum agminibus, velut acie ducebatur instructa, omnium oculis in eum non modo contuitu destinato sed cum admiratione magna defixis. Somnio enim propius videbatur adultum adhuc iuvenem exiguo corpore, factis praestantem ingentibus, post cruentos exitus regum et gentium ab urbe in urbem inopina velocitate transgressum, quaqua incederet accessione opum et virium famae instar cuncta facilius occupasse, principatum denique deferente nutu caelesti absque ulla publicae rei suscepisse iactura.

The text and translation is Rolfe's in the Loeb.

Colchester to preserve Roman circus

Colchester Borough Council has applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for GBP950,000 to preserve the Roman circus which was first uncovered in May 2000. The article and the submission says 2004, but that is when the first formal excavations took place.

Colchester Borough Council have signed the submission bid for £950,000 to help conserve and interpret the unique Roman circus uncovered in the town four years ago.

The Roman Circus or chariot racing track is one of only four identified in Northern Europe and is one of the most exciting Roman finds to be uncovered in Britain in decades.

The council will find out in March 2009 whether their bid for around £1m in funding has been successful, after which a bid for further funding will be submitted.

Money will go towards creating a cover building and to raise awareness of the town’s rich cultural heritage for both locals and tourists.

Full story in 24 Hour Museum here. The formal submission from the council is here:

The Round 1 submission of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Bid for the Roman Circus Interpretation Project will be submitted on Tuesday 2 December 2008.

The submission will be hand delivered by Philip Wise, Heritage Manager for Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service, to Adrian Pritchard, Chief Executive of Colchester Borough Council, who will sign the submission.

Discovered in 2004, during archaeological excavations within the Colchester Garrison, the Roman Circus, or chariot-racing track, is a unique archaeological monument in Britain. At the time of the discovery it hit the headlines across the country and was heralded as one of the most exciting Roman finds in decades. Colchester is one of only six locations in northwest Europe where a Roman circus has been securely identified.  The Roman Circus in Colchester has Scheduled Ancient Monument status.

The Roman Circus Interpretation Project seeks to interpret and conserve the site with a cover building, offering both residents of Colchester and tourists a new attraction to enjoy in the town. The project will raise the public’s awareness of Colchester’s rich heritage and provide a focus and resource for educational activities. The Round 1 submission seeks external to council funding of £950,000, and in March 2009 it will be announced if the submission has been a success, after which a Round 2 submission will be prepared.

Cllr Theresa Higgins, Culture, Tourism and Diversity Portfolio Holder said: “I am delighted that the Round 1 bid for the Circus Interpretation project is going forward. Colchester’s Roman Circus is a unique piece of archaeology and we want to do the very best for the town and its history.”

Philip Wise, Heritage Manager for Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service said: “We have taken the next step in achieving the Council’s proposals for a new visitor experience at the Roman Circus. The submission of the Round I bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund is the culmination of many months of work.  We must now wait to see whether we will be able to progress to the second round application stage.” 

Full details of the original excavation are at the Colchester Archaeological Trust website here. The image is from the original report, Philip Crummy, "Eureka! A Roman Circus," The Colchester Archaeologist 18 (2005).

The return of Bonekickers?

Bonekickers, the archaeological drama series that was axed by the BBC after one series (see previous story here) might well live again.

Writer Ashley Pharoah, who was also responsible for the genius Life on Mars and the so-so Ashes to Ashes, has revealed plans take the series to the US. It makes sense. Life on Mars US has been winning awards left, right and centre.

It may have received lukewarm reviews in this country. But Bonekickers' writer Ashley Pharoah believes his show will achieve success stateside.

The Emmy award-winning TV show creator was in the city where the series was filmed to act as a judge for a film scriptwriting competition at St Mark's School.

While he was there he spoke to the students about his work and also revealed plans to take the BBC drama to America with a new script and cast.

The archaeological detective programme had mixed reviews when it was aired in the summer and there are no plans for a second series, but Mr Pharoah said he was excited about re-scripting it for an American audience.

Full story in the Bath Chronicle.

Homer, catastrophe bonds and the FT

The FT continues to prove that it is the most articulate, informed and educated paper in the UK. This intro from a piece on catastrophe bonds on the paper's always brilliant blog Alphaville:

Ajax was a Greek hero who committed suicide in Homer’s Iliad. Ajax bonds are the worst performing catastrophe bonds this year.

Sold by Ajax Re Ltd., they were one of four of the so-called cat bonds which used Lehman Brothers Special Financing as their total return swap counterparty. Not surprisingly, the issuers of the bonds had to terminate their swaps after Lehman went under in September — et voila, catastrophe for investors, so to speak.

Full story here.

Roman Camp at Maryport, Cumbria, redux

Nice of the Westmorland Gazette to join the party. It has followed up on the report (see original story on November 28) that Hadrian's Wall Heritage has bought land next to Senhouse Roman Museum, in Maryport, Cumbria, which it intends to develop into a visitor centre.

The acquisition of 150 acres of land at Camp Farm in Maryport, Cumbria is the first step in a major development to excavate the Roman fort and adjacent vicus – the civilian settlement that spread outside of the fort walls – and create a major new museum. Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd is the company that was set up in 2006 to help look after, protect and conserve the World Heritage Site and to increase its contribution to the local and regional economy through sustainable tourism. The Chief Executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, Linda Tuttiett, said: “This important site has the potential to be developed as a world class museum throwing more light on the story of Roman life in Britain and the role of Maryport in the frontier system. The purchase of the site is the first step in a £11.5 million scheme that will bring an additional 50,000 visitors to Maryport every year, spending between £3 and £4 million and supporting up to 120 new jobs in the area.”

Full story here along with comments from the ubiquitous David Breeze. It is joined by the BBC and Wigan Today.

Brading Roman villa back under cover

The North Range Building of Brading Roman villa on the Isle of Wight is being covered over for the winter. The section of the site, which turned out to be an aisled hall, was excavated in the summer by a team, led by Barry Cunliffe. From the Isle of Wight County Press:

Visitors to Brading Roman Villa have had their last chance to see the remains of the North Range building, which were unearthed in last summer’s Big Dig.

Supported by English Heritage and supervised by representatives of Sir Barry Cunliffe’s dig team, back-filling began on the site on Monday last week.

It was covered with an inert landscape fabric, designed to protect the archaeology and inhibit any potentially damaging plant growth.

This was then covered with a layer of sand and topsoil to enable grass re-growth. The procedure will protect archaeology for future generations and facilitate simple excavations if it is re-examined.

The dig was the first phase of an on-going programme of research led by Prof Cunliffe, emeritus professor of archaeology at Oxford University.

The excavation confirmed the North Range building was an aisled hall with a timber roof structure supported on 12 pairs of massive stone piers along the hall’s base.

This section of the villa complex was last on public display during the original excavations of 1880.

Image copyright Brading Roman Villa

Collectio Avellana online

The Collectio Avellana is one of those rare primary sources that has always beena pain to get hold of. It is a collection of more than 200 documents, imperial and papal letters primarily dealing with religious matters, that date from the fourth century to the sixth century.

It is essential reading for the reigns of Gratian and Valentinian II and gives an insight to usurpers like Maximus.

The standard edition is O Günther: Epistolae Imperatorum Pontificum Aliorum Inde ab a. CCCLXVII usque DLIII datae Avellana Quae Dicitur Collectio, CSEL Vol 35, 2 parts (Prague,Vienna, and Leipzig 1895).

Fourth Century Christianity, a site I had not come across before (thanks to Roger Pearse for the hat tip), has a section on it as well as links to a Google books download. It doesn't work for me, but then I often find Google books a little hit and miss.

The site also has fragments of Marcellus of Ancyra as well as other goodies.

Roman temple at Southwell, Notts

The dig I reported on at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, in October, has just become more interesting. The Nottingham Evening Post, suggests that as well as a villa there could be the remains of a temple.

The remains of a Roman temple have been found in Notts – and experts say it could re-write the history books.

A wall dating back as far as 43AD, made from large smooth-faced sandstone blocks, has been unearthed at the former Minster School site in Southwell.

Twenty metres long by 2.5 metres tall, it is part of an emerging complex of buildings including a Roman bathing monument – known as a nymphaeum.

The site also contains what is believed to be a large villa.

Ursilla Spence, senior archaeological officer for Notts County Council, says the find is one of the most exciting in her 25-year career.

She said: "This is a monumental discovery. I have never seen Roman archaeology looking like that in Notts.

"It is starting to re-write our understanding of Notts in the Roman period.

"You don't expect to see a wall of this masonry. It looks as if it could be a pagan Roman temple. Not only are they using these huge blocks but they were using smooth faces. It is very much a grand building.

Full story here. More on the dig from Southwell Archaeology, here.