The Association for Roman Archaeology SeptemberARA 2012 NEWSIssue 28 Relief at Naqsh-i Rustam, Iran, commemorating Sasanian victories over Rome. Sapur I grasps the captured Valerian's wrist, while Philip the Arab kneels in supplication (see page 14). Photo: © Ian Heritage. CONTENTS Page Contents and Contacts 2 Editorial 2 A visit to The Novium, Chichester's new museum 3 to 5 The Jupiter stone – a Romano-British sculptural treasure goes on display at The Novium 5 2012 ARA study tour of Sicily 6 to 11 Halstock Roman villa, Dorset – a lost floor of opus sectile 12 and 13 A Tale of Three Emperors: Images of Roman defeat in Sasanian Iran 14 to 21 Anthony Beeson's Archaeological Round-up 22, 23, 30, 31 and 35 Jublains – a provincial Gallo-Roman civitas 24 to 29 Epigraphy quiz 29 Three Treasures of Ancient Britain and Sweet Fanny Adams 32 to 35 Epigraphy quiz solution 35 ARA Honorary Life Membership Award – Brian Philp 36 Obituaries 37 to 39 Membership Matters 40 Booking form: ARA 2012 AGM and Symposium 41 Recent ARA grants 42 Donations and Bequests 43 Trustee nominations form 44 Editorial a time when the economy is struggling. much-needed exercise. But local If only we could generate a similar level authorities and museum trusts should While I'm no great watcher of sport, it of passion, pride and political support remember that replacing trained staff was good to see the nation get behind for the national legacy we already have, with volunteers carries risks. Museums the spectacle of the Olympics. However, the legacy of our country's past. do more than display items: they are having heard of the debts and white archives, holding and conserving far elephant sports' facilities of former Among the cuts and closures there is more than is seen by visitors. They hold Olympic cities, the talk of 'legacy' made some good news. Chichester's new artefacts in trust for future generations. me wonder how much benefit our museum, The Novium, has opened Academics using new techniques and country will see in the long run from the (pp3–5). The future of the Curtis with new insights can learn more about enormous investment of time, money Museum and the Allen Gallery in Alton, our past (see the Archaeology Round- and political effort in the Games. And Hampshire (pp32–5), both of which up items on the Capitoline Wolf, p22, also, how much our heritage would nearly closed last year, seems a little and the statue of Mark Antony's and benefit from a fraction of that support. more certain, although sadly Cleopatra's twins, p23). I suspect it will professional staff at the museums lost be many years before the skills, local The organisation of the Olympics was their jobs. The museums survive due to knowledge and experience that left an incredible achievement. National the hard work of enthusiastic volunteers. with the Alton museums' former staff pride and the attention of the media can be regained, if it can be at all. meant that the political cost of failure As the Olympics has shown, volunteers would have been high, so it had the full can make an invaluable contribution. Finally, I'd like to congratulate Brian backing of Government. Billions of It's a rewarding experience; if you've not Philp (see p36), who in July was awarded pounds were spent. Thousands of done so, I suggest you try it. I've just an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters volunteers pitched in, and scores of returned from working as a volunteer by the University of Canterbury. celebrities performed in the opening on an excavation in Alderney. I learned a and closing ceremonies. And all of this at great deal, made friends and got some Nich Hogben, Editor. 2 A Visit to The Novium, Chichester's new museum by Grahame Soffe In June 2004 the ARA visited the building, designed by Keith Williams, Chichester District Museum in Little the architect of the Wexford Opera London, a former eighteenth-century House in Ireland and the Unicorn corn mill, first opened in 1962 (ARA 17, Theatre in London, had to be arched (2006)). Although Chichester has had a across the deep excavation, 1.5m below museum since 1831, by the 1970s, street level. Its modernistic design, when it was required to serve the whole coated with crushed Bath stone, has district, the collections had grown caused some considerable controversy enormously, partly because of the in a city of old brick, medieval stone and continuous excavations taking place flint. The original excavations took place around the city. The ARA also viewed during the 'golden age' of Chichester the Roman sculptured stones and archaeology, when Alec Down over inscriptions stored in the old Guildhall – many years led dedicated teams in fact the huge thirteenth-century exploring a large number of sites chancel of the Greyfriars' Priory church, threatened with redevelopment. The which was occasionally opened to the baths, like so many of these sites, were public. The old museum has been speedily published by Alec Down and closed for several years, so it was with his colleagues in Chichester Excavations, trepidation and excitement that, at the a splendid set of volumes. After Fig. 1. Exterior of The Novium. Photo: © Grahame Soffe. invitation of Tracey Clark, the Museum excavation, the baths lay preserved Manager, I visited The Novium (Fig. 1), under a car park, together with the mosaic from one of the two villas Chichester District's long-awaited new remnants of Saxon pottery production, excavated by Alec Down in the museum, a few days after its official medieval housing, a pub and a school, Chilgrove valley, dating to the fourth opening to the public in July this year. until the new museum could be built. century (Fig. 3). Having been In comparison, the new building offers Now we can step back onto the temporarily displayed at Fishbourne, three floors of objects and history, excavation site and view the remains of moving the mosaic to the museum access for all, and a purpose-built masonry hypocausted rooms, and even was a major task, as one section alone social history collection's store. a labelled section. A huge plate-glass weighs nearly 500kg and there are four window, whereby the baths could be pieces fixed onto the wall opposite the The new museum stands in the middle viewed from Tower Street outside, has baths. In the centre of the ground floor of Noviomagus Reginorum, the Roman had to be covered over whilst problems is the key exhibit, the Jupiter Stone city from which it derives its name, on with algae growth are being tackled. discussed by Anthony Beeson in this the remains of the Roman public baths Staff at Fishbourne Roman Palace, just issue (p5), and on the first floor the excavated in 1974–75. The exposed down the Roman road running west out tombstone of a woman with a Romano- area of a part of the baths occupies a of the city, are giving valuable advice. Celtic sounding name ending … CCA sunken area viewed from the ground AELIA – possibly Boudicca Aelia – who floor of the museum (Fig. 2). The rest of The moment I walked through the glass died aged 36. Another tombstone, of the floor is taken up with other doors, I was amazed by the space Catia Censorina, decorated with a pelta, important Roman exhibits. The wall provided by the building. Up against the has been moved back to the Collections behind the baths has been utilised as baths there is a glass balustrade case Discovery Centre at Fishbourne. The the screen for an audio/visual film containing Roman objects found at the ground floor also houses the Tourist showing a re-creation of how the baths site, and the fine bronze arm from a Information Centre and shop. I hope might have been used, including actors statue, illustrated in ARA 17 (p41, Fig. 2). that over time the shop will provide swimming and playing ball games. The Another feature of the ground floor is products such as books, which will Fig. 2. Roman public baths – heated room 1, view from north. Photo: © Grahame Soffe. Fig. 3. Chilgrove mosaic on display with shop to left. Photo: © Grahame Soffe. 3 'Hope', with many of the objects shown in open white boxes – a rather effective exhibition device. Indeed, all exhibits in the museum are clearly labelled with provenance and accession details. Amongst them I found yet more Roman pots, an amphora (Fig. 5) and a first- century BC/AD coin hoard from the beach at Selsey, and first-century BC Fig. 5. Roman amphora from Selsey beach. coin moulds and a crucible from Photo: © Grahame Soffe. Boxgrove. In the 'Bravery' display, the development of weaponry and military equipment is shown from prehistory to the recent World Wars, and here I found a fine Roman soldier's bronze belt-plate, a helmet crest knob, an eagle-head vehicle terminal (Fig. 6) and an iron Fig. 6. Roman bronze eagle-head terminal. Fig. 4. Part of first-floor display. Photo: © Grahame Soffe. Photo: © Grahame Soffe. gladius, all from the Chapel Street excavations nearby; clear evidence for showcase and interpret the exhibits. excellent time-line and maps of the the early military phase of Roman The front-of-house staff include district, an explanation of stratigraphy, Chichester. This gallery also has a fine ARA member Bernie Speigelhalter. and at least a way of establishing where tinned circular mirror from St Pancras, our Roman period lies in the great some very rare hexagonal terracotta My guide on the tour was Anooshka scheme of things! Moving past the roof tiles from the Battens Hanger Rawden, Collections Officer and 'curiosities case', containing a Roman villa at Elsted, and an iron Assistant Museum Manager, also an prehistoric elephant tusk, 'Heron Allen's emasculator found on the Cattlemarket ARA member.