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RFG R}C RI.-G P.f'G RI-G RI;G RFG R!'G RFG RFG RFG RFG RFC RFG R.FG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RfG R'-C RFG RFG RFG RFC RFG RFG RFG RI-G RT-G RFG RT'G RT'G RFG RFG RT-G RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RI'G RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFGRFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG RFG .TE WSLETTER XVI COTVTENTS

Editorial

Home News from Abroad: the Clausentium Lamella ....

The Hoxne : an Update

Conference Report I

Late Antiquity Research Group 10

RFG Committee News l1

Book Revrew' l2

Notes and News 14

July 1998

Data Protection Act

Under the terms of the 1 984 Data Protection Act, The Roman Finds Group is required to ask its members whether they have any objection to personal data about them being held by the Society on computer. The personal data consists of members' names and addresses used for mailing notices of meetings, and will be released only to archaeological organisations. If members have any objections to personal data about them being held by the RFG, could they please write to the editor Editorial

I'm not quite sure if many people read these editorials, but I will take the opportunity anyway to draw your attention to the appeal on page I I for new committee members.

In the last editorial I enquired what your views were about catalogues, and whether, if they were made accessible via the Internet, you would be able to use them. I only had one reply about the catalogue issues, from which I deduce that most members don't have strong views. Three members let me know their email addresses and I know of a handful of other members who can be contacted by email. From this admittedly unsystematic survey, I would estimate that at best only about l0% of the membership would have easy access to electronic information. At present it would appear that most people who might use catalogues of Roman finds would find it difficult to use them if placed on the Internet.

Members might like to be reminded of the committee members contact addresses. Angela Wardle (l Stebbing Farm, Fishers Green, STEVENAGE, Herts. SGt 2JB) deals with all membership matters (subscriptions changes of address etc.), and Jan Summerfield (English Heritage, Historic Properties South East Region, 1 High Street, Tonbridge TN9 I SG) handles all the other group secretary matters. Please note the change ofaddress for Jan.

The deadline for the next Newsletter will be December 3l'1, 1998. As ever, all contributions gratefully received, no matter how short. If you feel inspired to write more than 1,000 words, I would be grateful if you could contact me first. Please send all contributions to:- Hilary Cool, I6 Lady Bay Road, West Bridgford, NOTTINGHAM NG2 5BJ

Tel/fax 0ll5 98 I 9065

Email . hilary. cool@btinternet. com HOME I\EWS TROMABROAD: THE CLAUSEI{TIUM LAMELLA

The last issue of the Roman Finds fair reflection on central Europe, at Group Newsletter carried a least (The Bone Objects of the description and illustration of a Roman Collectiort, Budapest 1994, mystery object from Clausentium 54). It might also be added that if (XV, p. 6 item 098). There is, in they came from Britain, however, fact, very little mystery about this then you would be lucky to find object at all and it belongs to a published details of them. familiar and reasonably well-dated object type of first to third century Bone strips of this sort may have had date,, which has been found on a several functions. There is a clear number of Romano-British sites. It relationship with the so-called does, however, raise a few broader Tesserae nummulariae, and this has questions about the publication of been drawn out by Kordula Roman objects of bone, antler and Gostencnik, in describing the ivory from British contexts, simply Magdalensburg pieces ('Das because the copious list of Kleinfunde aus Bein vom occurrences of the object type is to Magdalensber,g', Carinthia I (1996), be found not in an English 129-30). The tessero€, however, publication, but tucked away as a have inscriptions cut into them, note in Jean Claude Beal's excellent making it relatively easy to determine Catalogue des Oh.iects de Tablefierie their use. Beal has noted that two du Mttsee de la Civilisation Gallo- examples from Lyon do not have Romaine de Lyon (Lyon 1983) graffiti or traces of painted inscriptions, and this is also the case Beal's footnotes to his catalogue with the Canterbury and York entry mentions objects of a similar lamellae, although further scientifi c type from various sites in northern analyses could conceivably reveal Europe and the British examples, in a traces of writing. Forthcoming list conveyed by Stephen Greep, publications on material from both came from Caerwent, Castle Hill, Magdalensburg and Augst will Exeter, , Richborough, undoubtedly throw still further light Silchester and York. As of 1983, on these objects, but it remains practically all of these examples regrettable that Stephen Greep's remained unpublished and although altogether excellent work on this is no longer the situatioil, most Romano-British finds such as these sadly still remain ineelit.s. Recent should remain largely unpublished, publications from Canterbury and and that the objects themselves are York, at least, have included objects consigned to museum stores, rather of this type. In addition, several than prominent publications other from norlhern Europe have also been published, including those Ian fuddler, from Magdalensburg and Szony, and Canterbury Archaeological Tntst, Maria Biro has even suggested that 92a Broad Street, these bone lamellae can be found CANTERBURY CTIzLU in any Roman settlement', which is a THE HOXNE HOARD I AN UPDATE

Work has been continuing on the Hoxne hoard in advance of publication and below Peter Guest and Catherine Johns provide an update on progress so far. First of all Peter Guest gives an overview of the publication plans in general and the coins in particular. It is followed by summary of the work on the jewellery by Catherine Johns.

The coins The great quantity of objects combined with the depth of research In September 1997 the Dept. of required to fully appreciate the Coins & Medals at the British significance of the Treasure, have led Museum began working towards the the B.M. to decide to publish the publication of the coins from the material separately in distinct Hoxne Treasure. Seven months later volumes. The numismatic material and the catalogue is complete, with will hopefully be fully available to a over 15,000 coins having been sorted wider audience wiiirin two years, and identified in as much detail as with volumes studying the other possible objects, as well as the historical and social contexts of the Treasure, The Hoxne Treasure was accidentally appearing soon after. discovered almost six years ago by Mr Eric Lawes while searching for a The cataloguing and study of the friend's hammer in a field in . Hoxne coins alone is a considerable The Treasure was originally task. Four denominations of coin contained within a large wooden were included in the hoard - chest and forms perhaps the most solidi (580), Iarge miliarenses spectacular collection of objects from (60), smaller silver siliquae ( 14,640- late . The Treasure ish) and a few scrappy (24) was acquired in its entirety by the J.W.E Pearce spent many years at in 1994 and two the B M. studying the silver coins of departments within the Museum now this period and his exemplary and share responsibility for the Hoxne ground-breaking work was published objects. Coins and Medals is as a series of articles in the I 93 0s and fortunate in being able to begin the 1940s. The Hoxne coins provide the long process of identification and stimulus to collate and update analysis of the coins, while the silver Pearce's work on these coins which tableware and items of gold jewellery will hopefully be useful to other are given prominence in the Dept. of numismatists. The collection at the Prehistoric and Romano-British B.M. provides the perfect Antiquities' new Weston Gallery of environment for this type of detailed Roman Britain. numismatic research and it is fitting that Pearce's own collection was left to the Museum to allow others to beast. It is increasingly becoming continue the refinement of his clear that the validity of some of the invaluable chronology. traditional perceptions have been undermined by broader enquiries and Although the sheer scale of the new discoveries. discovery near Hoxne has resulted in the use of the word 'Treasure' to The great majority of the coin describe the find, it is in fact one of from this period close with issues an increasingly well-known type of struck for the Emperors fucadius and late Roman precious metal hoard. at the mint between The last years of the Roman period AD 397 and 402. The size of the are notoriously difficult to interpret Hoxne hoard has produced a handful archaeologically and finds such as of coins (8 out of 15,000!) struck as Hoxne offer brilliant, but rare, late as 407-8, including two of the glimpses into the material culture of usurper Constantine III. In a recent the late fourth and early fifth study of these hoards my own centuries. East fuiglia has produced a interpretation of the material was that number of impressive collections of these coins were being used and lost plate and jewellery - the Thetford and sometime after AD 410, that silver Mildenhall Treasures are only two of and coins circulated in the more well-known finds. different areas for different reasons, Otherwise, over 90 hoards containing and that even a series of catastrophic the latest Roman coins to enter events does not satisfactorily explain Britain are known, almost without why Britain produces more later exception from and Roman coin hoards that the rest of southern England. This pattern of the Empire put together. discovery is unique from the late antique world and perhaps the study How many years after 410 coins of the Hoxne hoard will provide were circulating in Britain is more answers to some of the rnany difficult to answer. On the whole questions asked about the enigmatic numismatists would agree that and murky years of the transition understanding the common practice from Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon of clipping the silver siliquae at this England. period will add considerably to our knowledge. Andrew Burnett at the Not so many years ago, B M. and Cathy King of the archaeologists and historians felt that Ashmolean Museuffi, have debated the answers \vere already known. this phenomenon in some detail, and Relying on the later accounts of came to different conclusions about sources such as Gildas and Nennius the date and purpose of cliPPing. among others, hoards like Hoxne Over 90% of the Hoxne siliquae have were seen as the result of dramatic been clipped to some extent, varying and bloody incursions by 'Germanic' from slight cutting around the edge, pirates and invaders who, after to clipping so severe that the legends terrorising lowland Britain and were completely removed to leave driving the Romanised natives from only an anonymous imPerial bust in their towns and villas, themselves the centre. By grading the degree of settled on the vacated land. Today's clipping for the first time, together archaeology is not such a confident with an extensive metallurgical survey of the siliquae, it is hoped that The descriptive catalogue of the non-coin Hoxne will inform our discussion of elements of the hoard was completed by the fbte of late Roman silver coins in the summer of 1993, but there is still rnuch Britain. work to be done before a full publication is ready. Periods of temporary display in the Setting the Hoxne coins within the British Museum and at Ipswich for a total widest context (numismatically of some twelve months during 1993-5 speaking) provides the best possible prevented further detailed work at that opportunity of interpreting the time, and after that, the overriding priority phenomenon of hoarding at this date. was to complete the extensive conseruation From the fbw near contemporary and restoration programme, so as to enable historical snippets that survive, it is the hoard to be placed on permanent clear that for a fortunate section of display in the new Weston Gallery of society, Europe was an extremely Roman Britain. This was achieved. The comfortably place to live in the early new gallery opened in July 1997, and the fifth century. The Hoxne hoard Hoxne assemblage occupies a prominent represented a scale of wealth place in it. unimaginable to the vast majority of the population living in later Roman In normal circumstances, the research Britain, but in real terms would have programme would have recommenced been small potatoes to the Italian immediately after the completion of the senators for whom the Hoxne hoard gallery. However, the Great Court Scheme was equivalent of 213 days income! A and the British lt.4useum Study Centre, great deal of work has already been major building projects now under way at done on these coins, but a great deal the museum' affect the Prehistoric and more is needed to fully understand Romano-British Department directly and the diverse economic and cultural fundamentally, and from the autumn of influences that led to the burial and 1997 we have had to embark on packing loss of the Hoxne Treasure. and re-location into tempo rary and scattered accommodation with very Peter Guest restricted access both to our collections Hoxne Project Special and our library facilities. Assistant Dept. of Coins and Medals This difficult situation will continue until Bristish Museum the Study Centre is completed, but in spite of the obstacles, we are now beginning to move forward again with the Hoxne The Jewellery programme. More post-conservation, post-restoration photography is required., more scientific examination will probably In addition to the 15,000 coins., the Hoxne be needed in due course, and crucially, the treasure contains 29 pieces of gold drawing of objects for publication, a jewellery, nearly 2AA silver items, some of process which cannot be hurried, will start them tiny and fragmentary, and organic shortly; all this means that individual material such as bone box-inlays. These objects will be disappearing from display are the responsibility of the Department of for varying periods of time. Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities The nature of the gold jewellery and silver tableware and toilet utensils points to the hoard belonging to more than one assessed. This will take time, but it is individual, very likely a family. The range well under way. ofjewellery, including bracelets in pierced work, one of which bears an inscription Catherine Johns with the owner's name (Juliana) belongs Dept. of Prehistoric and firmly to the international style of late- Romano-British Antiquities Roman gold: without the sound British Museum provenance and hoard association it would be impossible to say where they were made and used within the Empire, though the inscriptions naturally indicate the western Empire. The exceptionally rare body-chain is a particularly significant find, Short bibliography and has led to some new research on this type spanning the Hellenistic to early R.A.G. Carson, 1976. 'Gold and Byzantine period. silver coin hoards and the end of Roman Britain' BM Yesrbook 1. The outstanding features of the silver assemblage include the presence of large S.A. Archer, 1979. 'Late Roman sets matching and ladles, of spoons gold and silver hoards in Britain', in late-Roman unparalleled in any other P.J. Casey (ed) The end of Ron?qn hoard, pepper-pots, and the four decorative Britain. BAR Brit. Ser. 71,29-64 three of which were very fragile and damaged, and have survived only through C.E. King, 198 l. 'Late Roman silver professional skilled excavation and hoards in Britain and the problem of conservation. Needless to say, they clipped siliquae', BI{J,5-3 I constitute the only concrete evidence so far pepper, a valuable for the use of and A. Burnett, 1984. 'Clipped siliquae expensive spice, in Roman Britain. and the end of Roman Britain', Britarmia XV 163-8 There are many intriguing theoretical aspects to pursue, for example the R. Bland & C. Johns, 1993. The evidence for careful packing of the Honte Treastffe. An lllustrated objects, consistent with the theory Introdu cli on. British Museum Press, that later recovery was envisaged, London) and the probability that larger silver vessels which would not fit in the C. Johns & R. Bland, lgg3. 'The wooden box were concealed great Hoxne treasure: a preliminary separately: it is likely that a frmily report" JRA 6, 492-6. which owned at least a hundred silver spoons also possessed large silver C. Johns & R. Bland, 1994. 'The bowls, jugs and platters. At a time Hoxne late Roman treasure', when the process of hoarding in Britartnia XXV 165 -73 antiquity is an active field of investigation for archaeologists, it is C. Johns, 1996. 'The classification vital that the evidence provided by a and interpretation of Romano-British major hoard excavated by treasures', Britarmia XXVII 1- 16. professionals is fully examined and P. Guest, 1997. 'Hoards from the J. Orna-Ornstein (eds) Coin Hoards End of Roman Britain', in R. Bland & from Roman Britain, volume X.

A DAY AT CIRENCESTER

13th. JULY l ggg

For its summer meeting the RFG century. A recent survey by Nick bravely ventured beyond the Griffiths has shown though, that that boundaries of the railway syst€ffi, and there is scarcely a villa or rural a very good turnout of about 3 5 settlement in the Gloucestershire and people visited the Corinium Museum Wiltshire area that has not produced at the kind invitation of John examples of the IA and IB types. Paddock. Can all of these be associated with passing soldiers or officials charged John gave the first lecture on the with collecting the annona? It is military equipment from Cirencester. possible that that the status of this The first century material relating to equipment needs to be re-assessed. the occupation of the fort at Cirencester (c. AD 47 -6A) has been Lynn Bevan then gave a paper on the published by Webster in the first Bacchic metalwork recently found in Cirencester Excavations report the Midlands. One piece, the very (Wacher and McWhirr 1982) John fine jrg handle from the Roman fort pointed out, however, that there was at Rocester has already been also Flavian material and as much 2nd published (Cooper 1996). The other to 3'd century material as there was two were both palera handles, and l*' century material Most new finds. One came from interestingly some of the later Brompton, Shropshire and the other material clearly showed evidence of from new excavations in the annexe being unfinished and, in some cases, of the Rocester fort. Interestingly of being failed castings. It has been the form of the Bacchic mask on the suggested that the later material new Rocester patera is very similar to might be associated with military that on the Rocester jug, hinting engineers brought in to help build the perhaps at the judpatera pairing defences, but this scarcely explains often seen in graves. the evidence for manufacture. Many of the pieces of Bacchic Even more puzzling is the incidence metalwork found previously in of the late military equipment of Britain have come from graves, but Hawkes and Dunning ( 196 I ) type. these three pieces had all been found The presence of these at Cirencester associated with military sites is not surprising given the enhanced suggesting a devotion to this saviour status of the town in the fourth god amongst the officers. Clearly they had not been casually disposed small finds contribute to a wider of as a degree of care had been taken understanding of a site and just what in detaching these handles from the is a south-western find. The bones body of the vessels, and on the could be used to show urban/rural Rocester patera a second (missing) dichotomies, the pottery the shifting head had been carefully sawn off links of the Cirencester region but perhaps to be used as an amulet. what of the small finds? This led to a Significantly the annexe has produced good discussion where it became other evidence of ritual behaviour in apparent that there are certain things the form of unusual pit deposits. that the finds community considers self-evident. That you cannot lump In the afternoon Emma Harrison and all finds of all periods into global Neil Holbrook gave us an overview analyses; that there is a very big of the work on Roman sites that the difference between the early and late Cotswold Archaeological Trust has assemblages; that context is all. I was been carrying out. Emma provided left, yet again, with the feeling that an introduction to the recently though we may feel many things self published work at Kingscote (Timby evident, we have still to get them 1998), and the Time Team across effectively to the wider investigation of the double courtyard archaeological community. villa at North Leach which the Trust was involved in. From the finds At the end of the lectures John point of view both sites had come invited those interested to visit the with problems associated with loss of reserve collections and other context. For Kingscote this was members of the audience took the associated with the classic backlog opportunity to look at the museum problems - different types of displays. It was therefore a splendid excavation, length of time between day with interesting and thought- excavation and post-excavation etc. provoking lectures and a feast of etc. For the Time Team experience objects to look at it. Many thanks the problems were associated with are due to John Paddock for hosting the speed of the excavations (many and organising the day, to Jan metal finds coming from metal Summerfield for arranging it and detecting of the spoil), and the (from the railway contingent) to demands of television (finds being Angela Wardle for organising the taxi seized, unrecorded, for display by shuttle between Kemble and presenters and the cameras). The Cirencester. Time Team want to go back to North Leach, in the hope they can prove it References to be a religious centre and not a villa which would, it appears., be too J. Cooper, 1996. 'Objects of boring. So the site may be coming - figured handle', Esmonde again to a screen near you soon. Cleary, A.S. and Ferris, I.M. Excat,aliotrs al the New C)emelery, The Trust is about to publish the fifth Rocesler, Staffirclshire, 1 985- I 987, volume of Cirencester excavations Trans Staffordshire Archaeol & (Holbrook forthcoming), and Neil Historical Soc XXXV (1993-1994), gave a paper based on this asking the 134-6 very pertinent question of what can S.C.Ilawkes, and G.C Dunning, J. Wacher, and A. McWhirr, 1982. 1961. 'Soldiers and settlers in Britain, Early Roman ocarpation ot fourth tot fifth century', Medieval Cirencester Cirencester Excavations Archaeology V, 3-70. I

N. Holbrook, (ed.) forthcoming. Hilary Cool Cirencesler: the Rontan towtt 16 Lady Bay Rd., defrnces and public buildirrgs and NOTTINGHAM shops (Cirencester excavations V) NG2 5BJ

J. Timby, 1998 . Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, G I ou c e ste r sh i re (Cirencester).

LATE ANTIOUITY RESEARCH GROUP

LARG was established in 1996 for relations and new membership. The the coordination and promotion of academic secretary is responsible for archaeological and related work on uK organizational issues and A.D. 300-700 in Europe and the meetings. The chair and secretary are Middle East. It is probably the largest appointed on a permanent basis. The research group for professional current chair is K.R.Dark and the research on this subject in Britain and academic secretary is A.L.Harris. concentrates on the Correspondence regarding Roman and Byzantine realms and membership and overseas fellowships those areas closely connected with should be addressed to K.R.Dark, them. LARG is based in the UK, and LARG, 324 Norbury Avenue, acts both as a national organization London Swl6 3RL, and regarding and an independent research group to 'day to day'matters, to the secretary, promote and coordinate Research Group, archaeological research in this period Faculty of Letters, University of by UK-based scholars. The Group Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, includes some specialists who study RG6 6AA" UK. UK membership is the archaeology of AD 300-700 in restricted in the general run to Britain, but aims to take a much professional specialists in the wider view than narrow insularity. archaeology, history and art history LARG has a tripartite structure and of the period concerned. There is comprises the main research group, a also the capacity for postgraduate national membership and a body of students to become members, if they overseas fellows and associates. are working on closely relevant subjects. Nominations for Organization and Membership membership at either level, are given LARG's chair is responsible for the by members to the chair for research programme, overall consideration, with supporting administration of the Group, overseas material. All membership is currently

l0 free of charge. Although full fuchaeological Project, co-directed membership is restricted to scholars by its chair, and a combined research based in the UK, an overseas senior programme between LARG members fellowship programme is being in the uK, analyzing early Byzantine established, whereby leading overseas contacts with Britain. Suggestions scholars have formal links with for joint fieldwork or finds-based LARG. Nominations for this, and projects are welcome. suggestions as to how to develop it, are welcome. Recently, an overseas Personal Research Assistance associate membership has been LARG is able to offer members established, equivalent to the UK advice and suggestions regarding postgraduate membership. New planned work of their own and grades ofoverseas and UK personal research and help establish membership may also be introduced new relationships between in future, to cope with continuing researchers. However, it must be rapid expansion. stressed that LARG is not a funding organization, and can offer no direct Activities financial support to UK members, In addition to academic research by overseas associates or overseas LARG itself, the Group holds bi- fellows. monthly research seminars, at which a member presents the latest results Web Page and Publications of their current work. These are open LARG maintains a Web Page at: to all members free of charge and http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/-acxla offer an opportunity to discuss v/larg.html important new research prior to and, recently, it has been agreed that publication. There is also a Summer the well-known periodical on study visit. All LARG members Byzantine Studies Golden Hom will pursue their own research and are be an official co-publication of capable of providing mutual LARG from 1998. An academic assistance on a very extensive series papers series is being established in of academic issues. Likewise, the late 1998. Group can form the context for organizing collaborative research Ken Dark, proposals and funding applications. LARG, 324 Norbury Avenue, Group Research Projects LONDON SWl6 3RL LARG sponsors two major research programmes of its own: the Istanbul

RFG COMMITTEE, NEWS

The present committee have been in beginning to flag and feel that it is place since 1994 and two of the time some new blood was injected members have served since 1990. into the system. Not surprisingly, some members are

ll As members will probably be aware, serve on the committee, or know there is no formal mechanism for someone who would be ideal, please replacing committee members as the contact Jan (English Heritage, RFG membership as a whole rejected Historic Properties South East a formal constitution in 1990 and Region, I High Street, again in 1994. In the past people TONBRTDGE TNe lSG) have found thernselves on the committee either by self-nomination I know everybody is over-worked or by being made an offer they and over-committed these days, but couldn't refuse by a current please think about being a committee committee member, and it is now member. The meetings are time to bring this mechanism into organised, the newsletter produced, play once again. The most pressing the mailings sent out by people who need is for someone to take over are equally over-stretched. If they from Jan Summerfield as Meetings are not replaced from time to time Secretary, but two other volunteers before they go ping, they and the are also needed. If you would like to group may both collapse.

Review

Roman Bloocl, ISBN 1-8548 7 -973-1 . price t 5 .99 Arms o.f Nentesis, ISBN 1-8548 7 -947 -X, price f.5 .99 (-atilina's Riddle, ISBN 1 -8548 7 -889- I , price f.6.99 A Mttrder on the ApTtian Wny,ISBI{ 1-85487-891-3, price f,6.99

By Steven Saylor, published by Robinson

In the good/bad old days when Latin Roman Blood is based on one of was firmly enshrined in the school Cicero's speeches as a defence lawyer curriculum, children quailed at the for a man accused of parricide, the name of Cicero. Translating his most heinous crime known to a stylised convoluted rhetoric was a Roman. Gordianus (presumably bore, and left the impression that his named for the famous knot !) is no rise up the political ladder was due to wisecracking Falco, but a quiet rnan people voting for him just to shut him with great curiosity, an instinct for up. So it comes as no surprise that the truth and consideration for the when Steven Saylor stafted to write poor and weak. Gradually he an historical thriller-cum-murder unravels the threads of greed, hatred, mystery with Cicero as hero., he soon self-seeking and lust that bind the found the man impossible to live with novel's characters together, and that on such an intimate daily basis. he is sometimes a bit slow on the Relegating Cicero to walk on parts uptake makes him all the more and noises off, Saylor invented a credible as a person. much more sympathetic hero., Gordianus the Finder. This is the first novel in a series intended to sweep from the dictatorship of Sulla through to the

t2 beginnings of Empire. Saylor's work between the destruction of will inevitably be compared to that of Gordianus's rural idyll and the Colleen McCullough - she deals with destruction of Catilina's political the same period and sometimes the ambitions. same people - and that of Lindsay Davis - she too has invented a Lurking behind Catilina are Caesar Roman'detective'. He has read and Pompey, and they move closer to neither, though he has met Davis central stage in A Murder on the several times, not only because he Appian Way,which covers the fears the dangers of unconscious murder of patrician-turned-plebeian plagiarism, but also because he works Publius Clodius Pulcher. Murder and on Roman historical thrillers for a intrigue, riot and arson are living and so prefers to spend his thoroughly mixed in this book, stirred leisure time doing something up to fever pitch by a mass of different. With four novels in print, politicians, their wives, sisters, and another soon to come out, and more mistresses. Gordianus, getting on the way, who can blame him for steadily older and greyer, continues taking a few hours ofil to plot his way through the mess and to bring it allto a tidy conclusion. ln Arnrs of Nemesis Gordianus finds himself in Campania, where he moves An American by birth but a Roman on the fringes of the Spartacan by passion, Saylor's research is revolt, hobnobs with Crassus, richest obviously both ex- and intensive, and man in , encounters the Sibyl of is matched by his grasp of political Cumae, and increases his family. machinations and the seemingly Probably the richest of the series so effortless prose that only comes with far in setting, atmosphere, political careful and close rewriting. He is and personal tension, it is no wonder clearly a master of his chosen craft that Hollywood is interested in this and has produced a thoroughly story, which should do Saylor's enjoyable series, with no formulaic pocket good, if not justice to his reworking of one good idea but writing. changes of plot, mood and setting, and a wealth of interesting By the time of Calilina'.s Riddle characters, both historical and Gordianus has retired from'finding' invented. He has recently completed to become a farmer in Etruria, a lecture tour of Britain, but should surrounded by neighbours from hell. be back in about two years'time. As He cannot escape Roman political modest and witty a speaker as he is a intrigue, however, and that old writer, his talks, like his novels, reactionary Cicero embroils him should not be missed. against his will with the charming potential revolutionary Catilina, Nina Crummy, bugbear of the establishment. The 2Hall Road, novel is awash with headless bodies Copford, and disarticulated bones. shifting

l3 Notes and News I t Treasure Act sewer at Church Street (17 l1), and l from Skeldergate and Bishophill I f The RFG together with the 700 to (17 l2), and Dominic Tweddle's 1700 Finds Research Group and the report on the material from Archaeology Section of the United Parliament Street and other city Kingdom Institute for Conservation centre sites (17 14) which also (UKIC) are planning a joint meeting includes Roman material. in March 1999 to examine how the this Act and its pilot recording schemes are working. The venue and Books, books, books precise date have yet to be confirmed. Enclosed with this newsletter are a Ieaflet detailing a special offer on It is hoped that the meeting will put books from the CBA" and one giving forward the views of all communities details of publications by the which this Act impinges upon. If you Cotswold Archaeological Trust (see think you could help in the planning, also p. 8) please contact Jan Summerfield (address on page I ) If you are publishing reports that you think might be of interest to the members, remember we are always happy to publicise them in the Newsletter. IFA Finds Group

The next meeting of this group will Email be in Durham on October l" 1998. The provisional theme is Fincls - the One of the (very few) members who Acaderuic perspeclive. Further responded to my email queries in the details from. last Newsletter, suggested it would Irena Lentowicz, 25 Highwood be useful if a list of email addresses View, DURHAM DHI 3DT. for members was circulated.

If other people also think this is a good idea, I'm prepared to co- York lndexes ordinate and circulate such a list, but I will need you to send me your email The York Archaeological Trust has addresses. embarked on a programme of publishing indexes to their reports in Contact me at :-

the Archaeology of York series. 't Members may like to know that an hilary. cool@btinternet com I 5 index now exists to Fascicules I to I i' of Volume I 7 (the small finds). .i. These include Arthur McGregor's reports on the Roman finds frorn the

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