Creolization” and Agency in Divodurum Mediomatricorum
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David E. Witt “Creolization” and Agency in Divodurum Mediomatricorum David E. Witt This paper investigates the nature of enculturation and agency within an expanding hegemony, specifically the Roman Empire. However, rather than using the traditional concept of Romanization, the concept of creolization will be discussed and applied to the site of Divodurum Mediomatricorum (modern Metz, France), whose public architecture and landscape indicate different strategies utilized by the people of the indigenous Gallic society as they adapted various Roman practices in the creation of the Gallo-Roman culture. This paper will illustrate that the theoretical advancement of creolization can provide archaeologists with a better understanding of the processes of enculturation. 90 Chronika “Creolization” and Agency in Divodurum Mediomatricorum Introduction other Gallic sites.5 Rather, it illustrates a successful attempt by the citizens of the As the Roman Empire expanded site to join the Roman Empire—an active, throughout the Mediterranean and Europe, multigenerational process of participation it encountered numerous peoples who and negotiation in the creation of a new resisted this expansion. Some attempts identity which was derived from both failed, while some succeeded. Despite the Roman and Gallic sources, but in which immediate outcome of the struggles, these neither culture dominated. Because of this, contests inevitably led to changes in the the citizens of the site built and utilized the lives of the individuals involved and of the various structures and symbols throughout physical expressions of the settlements in the settlement’s landscape over the course which they lived. This paper investigates of two centuries; this landscape is evidence the nature of enculturation within the of the intentionality of the inhabitants. period of the first century B.C.E. to the This indigenous approach to interpreting second century C.E. However, rather the landscape is in contrast to traditional than using the traditional concept of concepts of Romanization, in which the Romanization to explore these processes, Roman culture was forcibly exported to the concept of creolization is discussed Gallic elites and the role of non-elites and applied to the site of Divodurum was minimized or disregarded completely. Mediomatricorum1 in northeast Gaul, By studying Divodurum, we are able to illustrating different strategies used by the see the extent to which individuals were people of the indigenous Gallic society willing to alter their civic-ceremonial as they interacted with various Roman landscape without overt force from Rome practices in the creation of a Gallo-Roman in an attempt to participate in the Roman culture. hegemony on their own terms. Divodurum Mediomatricorum, which Theoretical Background is now Metz, France, is located on a promontory at the confluence of the rivers This study employs the concept of Moselle and Seille. Cliffs along the rivers creolization, rather than utilizing form two of Divodurum’s boundaries; traditional concepts of acculturation and a wall formed the third. Ten to thirty- Romanization. Originally a linguistic term five hectares were encompassed by these designating the blending of two dialects to boundaries, but the larger figure seems create a third,6 creolization “has come to more accurate.2 Thus, Divodurum was be used more generally for the processes one of the larger oppida known in northern of multicultural adjustment through which Europe, and by far the largest settlement [blended] societies were created.”7 This among the Mediomatrici.3 Even if theoretical framework was first applied Divodurum was much smaller, the size of to the development of African-American the city compared to other settlements in culture within the United States,8 but was the region suggests that it was of primary successfully adapted for a study of the political importance in the area and served Roman religion by Jane Webster.9 It has as a “capital” for the Mediomatrici.4 since proven to be a valuable tool with which to approach the topic of cultural Divodurum shows no evidence of warfare contact and ensuing change. and there is no evidence that Roman forces, whether military or civilian in nature, Creolization allows for a wide-ranging directly influenced the development of the analysis of interaction, both political and site’s Gallo-Roman culture, unlike many social. It interprets the use of artifacts and Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology 91 David E. Witt symbols by non-elites not as an attempt landscape contains numerous features that to become Roman, but rather the use of were traditionally viewed as forced imports such artifacts through an indigenous, non- from Rome. These features, which include Roman set of rules. As Webster claims: the city’s forum and associated religious structures, various temples, a grid road “Provincial artifacts in the Roman network, and aqueducts, were seen as world may likewise appear Romanized, evidence of civilization that accompanied but can in certain contexts likewise the movement of Roman soldiers and operate according to a different, traders throughout the region.15 This may indigenous, set of underlying rules. have been the case in other cities, such As creole artifacts, they can negotiate as Arelate, Augustodunum, Treverorum, with, resist, or adapt Roman styles to and Virunum,16 but the historical and serve indigenous ends, and ultimately, archaeological record indicates that they are part of the emergence of Roman forces had limited influence within creole societies.”10 Divodurum.17 Therefore, the construction of these features was likely the result of Creole culture is a combination of different processes of enculturation initiated and traits, and the processes of creolization undertaken by the agents of Divodurum take place in a nonegalitarian social context itself. This discussion will focus on of asymmetrical power relations.11 These features of the sacred landscape, but also processes are given material expression incorporates features of the mundane through artifacts and landscape features landscape of the city. which illustrate dual cultural traditions which are then utilized to different degrees The Hauts-de-Sainte-Croix within a colonial experience.12 Within this colonial experience, links to the past The political, religious, and economic center are often maintained in opposition to the of Divodurum was located on the summit goals of the dominant culture’s elites, of the Hauts-de-Sainte-Croix.18 There is and oftentimes carry risk because of the no evidence for buildings on the summit asymmetrical nature of this relationship.13 previous to Roman control,19 and this lack of From this we see that creolization is “a construction corresponds to current ideas process of resistant adaptation” and what that oppida originally preserved locations results is not “a single, normative colonial of spiritual and communal importance culture, but mixed cultures” evidenced within the landscape, locations which may by the multiple, various uses of material have been reserved for assemblies, feasts, culture.14 Creolization therefore provides and ceremonies.20 During the period of a much more nuanced interpretation of incorporation into the Roman Empire, the material culture; one that is not limited summit maintained its status as the civic- solely to the power-based explanations ceremonial precinct of the city.21 However, offered by Romanization. it was converted to present an image of Roman power rather than Celtic sacredness, The Civic-Ceremonial Landscape of as illustrated by the construction of a forum Divodurum and other Roman features circa 80 C.E.22 Conversion of landscapes such as this It is through this framework of creolization remains a common practice throughout that I approach the civic-ceremonial time, and is an effective method of altering landscape of Divodurum Mediomatricorum and appropriating the power associated to reinterpret how its members engaged with the civic-ceremonial landscape of a the Roman world. The civic-ceremonial site.23 92 Chronika “Creolization” and Agency in Divodurum Mediomatricorum The forum was the primary place of city and its inhabitants had been sufficiently leadership within any Roman city, and Romanized to warrant promotion to a served as the legislative, economic, and higher [colonia] status.”33 frequently the religious center within the city.24 Divodurum’s forum was just If it is true that the population was south of the intersection of the two main expending their energy and money in order streets of the city, the Cardo Maximus to gain a higher status for their city, it and the Decumanus Maximus, at the was not merely for the title only but also summit of the Hauts-de-Sainte-Croix.25 for the additional benefits associated with The forum consisted of a basilica that being a colonia. These benefits not only functioned as the city’s curia, which was included the survival and growth of their the administrative building housing the settlement, but also the establishment of offices of local officials such as thequaestor , particular imperial offices which were later tabellari, and statores.26 Within the forum present at Divodurum, and the granting of was the Maison Quarrée, the capitolium of Roman citizenship to the elite of the civitas, Divodurum. As the capitolium, the Maison the state, of the Mediomatrici.34 Thus, the Quarrée may have functioned as the temple elite of Divodurum were investing their to the Capitoline Triad, but more likely