CONTENTS

First WordsPAGES 2- News PAGES 4-11 Field School News PAGES 12-17 The Roman Villa at St Laurence School, Wiltshire MARK CORNEY PAGES 18-19 Beowulf in Kent PAUL WILKINSON PAGES 22–27 Book Reviews PAGES 28-29 The Kent Archaeological Field School Courses and Roman Holidays PAGES 30-31

The cover picture shows the interior of the Pantheon in Rome, the greatest of all surviving Roman temples, it was built by Hadrian c. AD126. The Pantheon must rank with the Parthenon and Saint Sophia as one of the landmarks in architectural history. It was dedicated to the seven planetary deities and was in effect an architectural simulacrum of the all-containing cosmos. Externally, it is a building of no great account, but internally the Pantheon is unsurpassed, and it was as an interior that the structure was conceived. Its survival, almost intact is one of the great miracles of Roman architecture. Visit this incredible building and see areas not open to the public with Dr Paul Wilkinson and the Kent Archaeological Field School annual club trip in May.

Picture credits: With thanks to all picture suppliers including: p. 2, Time Team; p. 3 BBC Books; p. 4, 5, Petrie Museum; p. 7 Battle Museum/Beauport Park Roman Bath-house Trust; p. 9, Pre-Construct Archaeology, drawn by Helen Davis; p. 10, Pre-Construct Archaeology; p. 11, Bath Information Centre; p. 18, 19, Mark Corney; p. 23, Sutton Hoo Centre; p. 28, BBC Books.

‘Practical Archaeology’ is published by The Kent Archaeological Field School, School Farm Oast, Graveney Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8UP. Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the policy of the KAFS. Copyright, the authors (text) and KAFS (typography and layout) AD 2003.

1 FIRST WORDS

The Field School Centre Behind the oast is a further thirty acres of ponds, meadows and marsh. All of which was he Field School courses take place in an once part of the land belonging to Faversham oast house dating back to about 1916. The Abbey. When the abbey was dissolved in the 16th Tbuilding was gutted by fire about ten years century by King Henry VIII the school that was ago and was bought by Paul and Louise attached to the abbey was retained and Henry’s Wilkinson who rebuilt it over a six-year period, daughter Queen Elizabeth I gave part of the lands for some years whilst still working in London. to the school. These lands were called, obviously The ground floor is now a large classroom with School Farm, and were in the ownership of the all of the modern teaching aids. School Trust until the burnt-out oast was bought by the Wilkinson’s. As can be imagined there was very little paperwork to aid the transaction and it took over two years to complete the purchase of

A typical oast house (above) showing the hops from the surrounding fields being unloaded into the oast to be dried in the oast towers. Our oast was so badly damaged that it was necessay to demolish the building down to the ground floor and rebuild using the same bricks (right). Below can be seen the difficult task of fitting the cowls. the lands. The oast is now almost finished, the white cowls (left), were installed late last year. With the oast came a black and white cat who we called ‘Daisy’. Daisy quickly transferred her abode from the barn to lording it over the oast and students. Sadly Daisy had trouble with her lungs and died last year. She was so sadly missed that it was only recently that we adopted two wonderful cats, Rebecca and her son, Snowy, from the Celia Hammond Trust, on the advice of two KAFS members. Both cats have now settled into the outbuildings, but Rebecca is already showing signs of moving into the oast. Dr Paul Wilkinson. 2 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 FIRST WORDS

New Books by Paul Wilkinson

March began with the completion of my first book for Tempus publishers. As I write, I have just sent the manuscript off to my editor and the book is due for publication in December 2004. Archaeological Surveying and Recording is an accessible handbook for anyone wishing to understand these vital aspects of archaeology. It is a very practical book with clear instructions about how to carry out various techniques and how to use the appropriate equipment. Detailed illustrations have been especially commissioned by me for the book, as have the photographs. Each chapter has been read and checked by experts at

English Heritage and the Museum of London Archaeological Services (MoLAS). Last October, the BBC broadcast a lavish docu-drama about Pompeii, it attracted over 10 million viewers. My accompanying book, Pompeii the last day, was well received and it reached number three on the bestseller list. In Current World Archaeology, Neil Faulkner says ‘What is the best book to read for a basic introduction to Pompeii? Paul Wilkinson has just produced Pompeii: the last day ... the pages which reconstruct the last hours and moments of the victims are especially memorable ...Wilkinson offers a sensible one-day tour of the site for the independant traveller, with summary notes on each of the key monuments to be visited’. But why not visit Pompeii with Paul Wilkinson this year? See page ?? for details.

3 R OMAN H OLIDAYS

e wish to into the locked rooms introduce behind the main Wyou to our chamber of the new venture, Roman Pantheon and we have Holidays. Many of seen the aqueducts that you have already supplied water to joined us on Kent Pompeii, the starting Archaeological Field point of Robert Harris’ School trips abroad bestseller, Pompeii. and now we can You may book offer the opportunity confidently, knowing to do the same. that all our trips are The trips will made with Thomson, follow he same one of the largest travel format as before, Paul and I (Louise) will select firms in the country, who have ABTA and ATOL some of the best archaeological sites in each area protection. Working with Thomson means that we and devise an itinerary that will be both can offer you an exclusive trip, created by an informative and enjoyable. We are offering you a archaeologist, with the security of travel unique chance to join tours devised and led by a arrangements by an established organisation. leading archaeologist, and director of the Field Details for trips are on the folowing pages, and School. Paul is an archaeologist who combines on our website: www.kafs. co.uk. To book, simply commercial work with educational work at the fill in the form below and send it to us with a school. So he can answer the practical questions deposit of £225 per person per trip made to that many ask when visiting ruins, such as how Roman Holidays and insurance cheques made to would a structure have been built? How would a Thomson, £16 for under 65s and £18 for over 65s. series of commercial buildings functioned? What do those indents beside each wall mean? A ROMAN HOLIDAYS BOOKING FORM practical archaeologist can unravel the secrets of Please return this completed booking form with the deposit and insurance cheques to: Roman Holidays, School Farm Oast, the past by looking at the evidence etched in the Graveney Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8UP ruins you will be looking at. Paul also wrote the I/we wish to book …… places on the trip(s) to ...... BBC book, Pompeii the last day (see page ??)...... on (dates)…………...... Our trips are also tremendous fun, Paul and I I/we enclose a non-refundable deposit of £225 per person per always make sure that everyone enjoys the social booking, made payable to Roman Holidays. Total enclosed ...... aspects of the trips, from a rooftop lunch on the I/we would like a double/twin/ single room* (*single supple- Capitoline Hill, to a Roman-style meal on the site ment applies).We would like a junior suite at Hotel Graal (Pompeii trip, supplement applies) YES/NO at Glanum; from lunch in the gymnasium of the I/we would like to take out Thomson insurance @ £16 per per- Forum baths in Pompeii to a Provencal meal son under 65, £18 for over 65s and enclose a cheque made payable to Thomson for………...... beside the Pont-du-Gard. Many lunches are Full names of all travelling as they appear on your passports especially arranged exclusively for the group at ...... archaeological sites. So caterers will serve you Address Italien delicacies as you look across the ruins of …………………………...... Herculaneum, or you may sit on Roman stones at ...... the Castle at Baiae eating an alfresco buffet, Postcode……...... brought to site just for you. Tel. No. ……………...... Date of Birth …………...... As an archaeological school we are also able to E-mail arrange access to some special sites, not usually address...... open to the public, in Rome we have been shown

4 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 I MPERIAL R OME

M AY 8 TH TO 14TH

May 8th to 14th 2004, we visit the the maze-like catacombs built as The Kent multi-story graves by the early Christians. Archaeological Field Thursday: A day trip to Hadrian’s villa at School Club Trip to Tivoli will reveal the largest and most Imperial Rome expensive villa ever built in ancient Rome. Rome, the Eternal City, Hadrian designed it himself, having been was the centre of one of inspired by some of the sites he had seen in the greatest empires in his journeys through Greece and Egypt. history and ruins of its past may be found in Friday: A tour to the Baths of Diocletian and many of its streets. Join Dr Paul Wilkinson, on the wonderful treasures of the National the KAFS club trip that brings the glory of Roman Museum, before returning home. Rome to life. Cost: Twin/double room £1,341 per person Saturday: BA flight Heathrow to Rome. In the afternoon, we go to the Pantheon, the lively Piazza Navonna, the site of the Stadium of Domitian, and return via the Trevi Fountain. Sunday: A tour of the Colosseum, venue for some of the most spectacular games in the Roman world. Then, in a specially arranged visit to the Golden House, we will see some of the magnificent rooms built for Nero’s opulent banquets. In the afternoon, we will tour the Roman Forums and the Via Sacra, finishing at Trajan’s Column. Monday: A day trip to the Roman port of Ostia (right), entry point for the riches of the Empire that would be taken up the Tiber to Rome. Our tour will include the theatre, the baths and the forum. Tuesday: A coach tour past the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo, will end near Tiber Island, we will walk over the last working ancient Roman bridge in the capital, the Pons Single room £1,581 per person Fabricius. Next will look at the excavations at Details and what the price includes: the Theatre of Marcellus, before we ascend • Six night’s bed, breakfast and three-course Michelangelo’s steps to the Capitoline Hill to evening meal in the 4-star Imperiale Hotel visit the museum. The tour will end here after • Lunch on day 2 to day 6 (drinks not lunch in the rooftop cafe. included for any meals) Wednesday: Out day begins at the Arch of • Return BA flights from London to Rome Constantine, one of the best preserved • Coach trips as specified in the itinerary triumphal arches in Rome. Then we will visit • Entrance to sites and museums in the the wonderful palaces and temples of the itinerary Palatine Hill, and look at the site of the Circus • Fully-guided and escorted tours provided Maximus. After lunch, we will take the coach by Roman Holidays out of Rome along the Appian Way, built in All the above are provided by Thomson, who 312 BC, to the vast Baths of Caracalla. Finally, are members of ABTA and ATOL.

5 P OMPEII AND THE B AY OF N APLES S EPTEMBER 21ST TO 28TH

May 15th to 22nd; in an evocative townscape. Walking through September 21st to 28th, incredibly well-preserved structures, you will feel Field Trip to Pompeii and learn how a Roman town functioned. In the and the Bay of Naples afternoon, we will travel to Oplontis, a Our trips to some of the magnificent villa with beautiful frescoes and most famous historic gardens, and the museum at Boscoreale, the site sites in the world are of a Roman farm. set amongst magical natural scenery. It will soon Wednesday: Following in Aeneas’ footsteps to become clear why this lovely area was a favourite Cumae, to visit the Temple of Apollo and the place for ancient Romans to enjoy summer by the Cave of the Cumaenan Sibyl, we walk the 350- sea. Our trips will be based in Ravello, set high foot long tunnel to the Chamber of the Prophetic above the Amalfi coast, it is renowned for its Voice. In the 8th century BC, Cumae was one of gardens, classical music and stunning views. We the first Greek colonies in Italy. Nearby Baiae was will tour the archaeological remains of the ancient a Roman seaside resort until it was submerged, Greeks and Romans with the author of the BBC we will see salvaged artefacts in the Castle of book, Pompeii: the last day, Dr Paul Wilkinson. The Baiae. Finally, we visit the amphitheatre at provisional itinerary is: Pozzuoli, which has underground cells, showing Saturday: Direct BA flight Gatwick to Naples. the workings behind the scenes at gladiatorial Sunday: This morning will be spent at the games. treasure-studded Museo Archeologico Nazionale Thursday: A day on the beautiful isle of Capri, in Naples, which houses finds from Herculaneum begins at Villa Jovis, Tiberius’ base from AD 27. and Pompeii. After lunch we will go to Mount His life there became the focus of stories of excess Vesuvius that rises to over 4,000 feet and is still- and atrocities, for example Tiberius’ Leap is a active. The day ends at the villas in Stabiae, where 1,000 foot high precipice where Tiberius allegedly Pliny the Elder died in the eruption of AD 79. disposed of enemies. There will be time to explore Monday: A day trip to Pompeii to see the the island before returning via Amalfi. amazingly well-preserved city that was buried in Friday: Founded by Greeks in the 7th century BC, the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. We Paestum has one of the most intact group of will tour the forums, baths, shops and bars and Greek temples outside Greece. We will tour the walk along the tomb-lined Via dei Sepolcri to the Greek parts of the city and the later Roman Villa dei Misteri, containing some of the best remains, before visiting the site museum. surviving paintings of the Roman world. Saturday: Afree day before the return Tuesday: A visit to Herculaneum conjures up the spirit of ancient Roman life

6 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 R OMAN P ROVENCE J UNE 19TH TO 26TH

June 19th to 26th, from Glanum in the museum. Finally, we tour the Field Trip to impressive Roman watermills at Barbegal. Roman Provence Thursday: An early start to Orange to see the vast Provence was a four-storey Theatre Antique, the museum and the vital part of the Arc de Triomphe commemorating Augustus’ Roman Empire, victories at Actium. In the afternoon you will be indeed Arles free to enjoy the historic city of Avignon. was regarded as Friday: Another early start to visit Vaison-la- the Rome of the north and we will Romaine, set in a river valley in the Haut visit many of the wonderful Roman remains in the Vaucluse. We will have a guided tour of the region. It is easy to see the attractions of the area, they must have been as appealing to the ancient Romans as they are to us. Indeed the area has long attracted painters, such as Van Gogh. We will be based in Arles, but our extensive tour will take us to many sites across Provence. The provisional itinerary is: Saturday: BA flight direct Gatwick to Marseille. Sunday: A visit to the excellent archaeological museum in Arles will reveal the history of the area. This will be followed by a tour of the Roman remains in the city including the theatre, arena, cryptoportiques and baths of Constantine. Monday: The Pont du Gard is one of the most spectacular sites in Provence, after learning how extensive Roman remains in this lovely town — the three-tiered aqueduct supplied water to villas, streets, shops, theatre, baths and public Nimes, we will lunch beside the site. Next we visit toilets, the Roman bridge — and the site museum. a vineyard, built on Gallo-Roman remains, to see a Saturday: Afree morning, before the return flight. reconstructed Roman wine press and taste wine Cost: made in the ancient Roman way. Travelling past Twin/Double room £1,217 per person Roman Beaucaire, our last stop is at Tarascon, Single room £1,462 per person where you may visit the castle (fees payable). Details and what the price includes: Tuesday: A day in stately Nimes, where the *British Airways scheduled flights direct from amphitheatre is one of the best-preserved in the Gatwick to Marseille return world, and the Maison Carree is an almost perfect * 7 nights b&b in twin/double room (or single Roman temple. The Jardin de la Fontaine are supplement) at Hotel D’Arlatan in Arles gardens built over Roman baths, we will see the * Dinner in a local restaurant for each night, Temple of Diane, and Augustus’ 112-foot Tour lunches for four days (drinks not included) Magne. Back in Arles, we will visit the Alyscamps, * Coach travel from airport to hotel return and the Roman cemetery painted by Van Gogh. trips, as specified in itinerary. Wednesday: Avisit to the Greek and Gallo- * Entrance fees for sites, museums and wine Roman city and temple site at Glanum begins tasting, as specified in itinerary. with the arch and mausoleum outside the town, * Fully guided and escorted tours by Roman before a tour of this beautiful site. We will have an Holidays. ancient Roman-style lunch on site, before going to All the above are provided by Thomson, who are chic St. Remy-de-Provence, to see the treasures members of ATOL and ABTA

7 R OMAN AND M EDIEVAL S PAIN O CTOBER 9 TH TO 16TH

October 9th to October After touring the Roman walls and necropolis, we 16th, Field Trip to visit the Torre del Agua Archaeological Museum Roman and Medieval and Marchena, a Roman agricultural town. Spain Thursday: A visit to Italica, founded in 205 BC by On this two-centre Scipio and birthplace of the emperors Trajan and trip we will stay in Hadrian. We will see the amphitheatre, theatre Seville and Cordoba and houses. In the afternoon we visit Carmona a and tour the Carthaginian, then a Roman settlement. As well as amazing ruins in the walls and necropolis, the palace is of Roman the countryside origin, though the mostly rebuilt by the Moors. and towns of Friday: The day begins at the sherry-producing southern Spain. town of Jerez de la Frontera. We will visit the We will unravel Alcazr, the mosque, the baths, and the museum. the rich cultural In the afternoon we go to Cadiz, founded by the heritage of the region Phoenicians and transformed by the Romans into as we visit Italica, the first Roman Gades, where we will see the Roman theatre. settlement on the Iberian peninsula, and travel Saturday: Afree morning the flight home. through the area that became Baetica in 19 BC. Cost: The province became wealthy by producing oil, Twin/double room £1,230.00 per person wine, metals and wheat for the Roman world. Single room £1,405.00 per person After the Romans, other waves of traders and invaders came to Spain and left their imprint, especially the Moors, whose mosques and palaces we will explore. Provisional Itinerary Saturday: Iberia flight Heathrow to Seville Sunday: A visit to the Roman ruins of Baeolo Claudia, founded at the end of the 2nd century BC, the remains of the basilica, curia archives, capitol, temples and more, give an impression of urban life. After lunch in Tarfia, we will tour Seville and visit the archaeological museum. Monday: Leaving Seville to spend two nights in Cordoba, we will visit the Roman baths at La Luisiana, a villa, the Roman city of Obulcula and the Colonia Augusta Firma Astigi. Next we tour a Roman area of olive oil production, Almodovar Details and what the price includes: del Rio and the Andalusian Floresta Castle. * Return flights London/Seville Tuesday: A day in Cordoba, the capital of the * 7 nights bed and breakfast at two hotels Roman province of Baetica and the birthplace of * Dinner each night (drinks not included) Seneca. We will see the Via Augusta and the * Lunch Sunday to Friday (drinks not included) Roman bridge. Then we visit the Medina Azahara, * Entrance to sites and museums in the itinerary a partly restored palace city built on three terraces * Coach travel as specified in the itinerary in the Caliphate period. After lunch, near the * Fully guided and escorted tours by Roman mosque, we will visit the El Ruedo Roman villa. Holidays Wednesday: We return to Seville, via Osuna, All the above are provided by Thomson, who are conquered by Julius Caesar who re-named it Urso. members of ATOL and ABTA.

8 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 R OMAN G ERMANY- THE E DGE OF E MPIRE D ECEMBER4 TH TO 9 TH

December 4th to December 9th, Field Trip to of the Roman Empire. Its ground plan has Roman Germany — the Edge of Empire remained intact under fields and in 1977 a Roman Germanica formed the hard-won frontier reconstruction of the town began on a scale of 1:1 of the Empire and this two-centre trip will take us over the foundations. We will have a Roman-style to the heart of the area. Who can forget the lunch at Xanten’s reconstructed Roman inn. opening scene of the film Gladiator, set in the Tuesday: En-route to Trier, we will visit the Teutoburg forest? Our tour begins in Cologne, Roman villa at Silberberg, and then Saalburg and we will visit Aachen and the archaeological Roman fort, where a reconstructed Roman fort park at Xanten. Then we travel to Trier, one of the houses a museum. We will walk through a forest most important cities in the Roman Empire. Our to the Feldbergkastell, the highest fort along the trip will coincide with the Christmas markets, so Limes (700m). In the evening we will arrive, in you will Trier. Situated on the banks of the Moselle, Trier was a Roman city and is a Unesco World Heritage site. Trier was so important that it was known as Roma Secunda, the second Rome. Wednesday: A day in Trier will start at the Basilika, Constantine’s throne room, it is the largest surviving single room structure from Roman times and the bridge in Trier dates from AD 144-152. We will visit the three public baths in Trier, the Forum baths, the Barbara baths and the Imperial baths, the latter town being the largest outside Rome. Finally, we will walk beyond the medieval city wall to see the Roman amphitheatre. have time to get in Thursday: A trip to the Porta Nigra, this the festive spirit, while appreciating the winters impressive Roman gate dates to about AD 180. that must have put a chill in hearts of Roman After lunch we go to Cologne to fly home. soldiers. The provisional itinerary is: Costs: Twin/double room £905.00 per person; Saturday: Flight from London to Cologne. City single room £1,005.00 per person tour including the Roman north gate and tower, Details and what the price includes: the city hall, the Praetorium and the Romisch- *Return flights London/Cologne Germanisches Museum. *B&b at two hotels Sunday: Amorning in Aachen, where the warm *All dinners and lunches either in hotel or springs beneath the town attracted Roman restaurant in towns (drinks not included) settlers. After lunch in the cellar of the town hall, *Entrance to sites and museums in the itinerary we will visit the museum at Frankenberg Castle. *Coach travel as specified in the itinerary Monday: A day at the archaeological park in *Fully guided and escorted tours by Roman Xanten, the only Roman town north of the Alps HolidaysAll the above are provided by Thomson which had not been built over since the collapse who are members of ATOL and ABTA

9 NEWS

Michael Lewis, Deputy Head of Portable Antiquities of recorded with the Scheme is an elaborately the Portable Antiquities Scheme writes about the success decorated bronze patera, found by Kevin and future of the Scheme. Blackburn and Julian Lee whilst metal-detecting The Arts Minister, Estelle Morris, recently said in Staffordshire moorlands. Although the finders that the Portable Antiquities Scheme is ‘a real success story’! So, what is the Portable Antiquities Scheme and why is it such a big success? Every year many thousands of archaeological objects are discovered; mostly by metal-detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening, or going about their daily work. When recorded, these ‘finds’ offer an important source for understanding our past. Today, the Portable Antiquities Scheme offers the only proactive and The Staffordshire Moorlands patera. had no legal obligation to report the discovery, they took it to their local Finds Liaison Officer so it could be properly recorded. The ‘pan’ is decorated with Celtic-style motifs, inlaid with coloured enamel. The most exciting feature of the vessel is its engraved inscription, which lists four forts located at the western end of Hadrian’s Wall: Bowness (MAIS), Drumburgh (COGGABATA), Stanwix (UXELODUNUM) and Castlesteads (CAMMOGLANNA). Until the discovery of this vessel only two other examples were known with inscriptions naming forts on An Anglo-Saxon brooch Hadrian’s Wall, and this is the first to include from Eastry in Kent, which has Drumburgh. The ‘pan’ also incorporates the name been used as the logo design for the Portable Antiquities Scheme. of an individual, AELIUS DRACO, and a further place-name, RIGOREVALI, which may refer to comprehensive mechanism for systematically the place in which Aelius Draco had the pan recording such finds for public benefit. This data made. Aelius Draco (who possibly originated is made available to Sites and Monuments from the Greek-speaking part of the eastern Records and is published on the Scheme’s Roman Empire) was perhaps a veteran of a website: www.finds.org.uk garrison of Hadrian’s Wall and on retirement had Advancing knowledge this vessel made to recall his time in the army. The Portable Antiquities Scheme has made a The object was acquired by the British Museum major contribution to our knowledge and and is currently on display in the museum’s understanding of the past. The Scheme was ‘Buried Treasure’ exhibition. established in 1997, since then its Finds Liaison Evidence for unofficial Roman mints in Norfolk Officers have identified over 150,000 Most of the finds recorded though the Scheme are archaeological objects, many of which would perhaps less spectacular, but nevertheless offer have otherwise not been recorded. important clues about where and how people The Staffordshire moorlands patera lived in the past. Many hitherto unknown One of the most spectacular finds recently archaeological sites have come to light thanks to

10 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 NEWS

finds found by the public and recorded by the success, and the children were clearly enthused Scheme’s Finds Liaison Officers. These include by the opportunity to handle many ‘real’ two sites of unofficial Roman mints. archaeological finds. Coin blanks, and the fragments of bronze rods Working with finders used to make them, dating from the third century Katie Hinds and Adrian Marsden (Norfolk Finds AD were recovered by Shaun O’Reilly, Mervyn Liaison Officers) visit five metal-detecting clubs Bone and David Johnson whilst metal-detecting on a monthly basis. Each month they judge the at Colkirk and Rocklands in Norfolk. The finds, ‘Find of the Month’ competition and at two of the subsequently recorded by Adrian Marsden clubs regularly give a general talk about the finds (Norfolk Finds Liaison Officer), provide on the table. They also organise speakers to go to important evidence for the production of local the clubs to talk about local archaeological imitations of contemporary Roman coins — these projects and finds. copies were known as ‘barbarous radiates’. It is The Finds Liaison Officers encourage finders to now becoming apparent that there were a large bag up their objects according to which field they number of these unofficial mints scattered across were found in, and to mark each bag clearly with Roman Britain in the third and fourth centuries name, parish and grid reference or enclose a map. AD. Therefore these discoveries not only They also encourage finders to look for flint and contribute to our understanding of the local pottery whilst they are detecting. In the past historic environment, but also to our knowledge certain classes of object have not been reported of the economy of the whole Roman province because finders were unaware of what they were. of Britain. By recording such objects finders have themselves Raising awareness been made aware of the importance of these The Finds Liaison Officers, together with the Scheme’s Education Officer, have an important outreach role, working with a variety of people — including finders, school children, museum professionals, and staff and students at universities and colleges — to raise awareness of the educational value of finds for understanding our past. Information about the Scheme and educational resources are published on the Scheme’s website. Working with schools Last March, as part of a Finds Day at Tenterden Library, Kent, Andrew Richardson (Kent Finds Liaison Officer) gave a talk to pupils from the local primary school, in conjunction with Debbie Greaves of Tenterden Museum. After a general Nick Herepath recording metal-detector finds. introduction about the work of the Finds Liaison Officer, the children were divided into groups of objects and can make an even greater contribution two to three and each given an archaeological to our understanding of the past. find, a simple Finds Recording Form and a pencil Working with the general public and ruler, and asked to try to identify and In 2002 Nick Herepath (North West Finds Liaison describe their find. The finds used were of a wide Officer) curated a successful exhibition of metal- range of materials and dates, ranging from fossils detector finds from Cheshire at the Salt Museum, and Mesolithic flint implements to Roman, and Northwich and at Nantwich Museum to coincide Medieval finds. The event was considered a great with Cheshire Archaeology Day. The exhibition

11 NEWS

looked at how objects were discovered, who finds Kent there has been a strong tradition to build on them and how to record them. The displays also in this respect, as some archaeological groups and featured work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme units have regularly worked with local metal- and details of objects recorded. There were a detectorists. In order to foster further co- number of activities which explored what operation, and to give more an opportunity to survives in the archaeological record, but the work on archaeological sites, Andrew Richardson highlight of the exhibition was the objects (Kent Finds Liaison Officer) and the National themselves. Some of these were from the museum Council of Metal-detecting (Southern Region) collections, but many were loaned by local metal- have recently worked together to establish the detectorists and had never before been put on Kent Archaeological Metal-detecting Support Unit public display. (KAMSU). KAMSU has a set of operational Increasing opportunities procedures and draws on volunteers from all the The Portable Antiquities Scheme is the largest Kent metal-detecting clubs to assist with community archaeological project this country has archaeological projects. In the last year a number ever seen. The Finds Liaison Officers work hard to of teams had been provided to assist on increase opportunities for active public excavations, including a metal-detecting survey involvement in archaeology. A good example is for the BBC television series Two Men in and the White Ladies Aston Parish Survey. An Trench, and development control projects carried exhibition in Worcester provided a focus for the out by units such as Archaeology South East and parish survey, with events taking place in the Wessex Archaeology. parish itself. A metal-detectorist’s collection of The main role of the Finds Liaison Officers is to finds discovered locally and displayed in the record archaeological objects found by the public, exhibition evolved into a project to study the which are then published on the Scheme’s archaeology of the parish more generally. School website. Last year over 60 per cent of the finds activities, a talk to the residents of the parish in recorded were found by metal-detectorists, but a the local village hall, finds identification sessions, significant minority were found by people not workshops and a programme of re-enactors all actively seeking archaeological material. Almost complimented the exhibition. 92 per cent of the finds recorded have been Overall this project was seen as very successful recovered from cultivated land, where they are in giving a range of people the opportunity to susceptible to plough damage and natural work together. The residents of the parish, and corrosion processes. It is the belief of the Scheme surrounding parishes, were particularly active in that everyone has a responsibility for our heritage advertising the varied events and arranging for a and should ensure any objects discovered are talk to be given to the White Ladies Aston properly recorded so that this information can be Discussion Group. The whole project had positive used to enhance our knowledge and community participation, but the wider message understanding of the past. of the exhibition was that anyone can research the Metal-detecting survey on Countryside archaeology of his or her parish without Stewardship land necessarily having to dig a hole. The exhibition Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen (Somerset & highlighted the Sites and Monument Records, Dorset Finds Liaison Officer) worked closely with archives, museums, Portable Antiquities Scheme, members of the Yeovil and District Bottle and and libraries as sources of information. Metal-detecting Club in the planning of a rally at Kent Archaeological Metal-detecting Support Dillington, Somerset. Because a proportion of the Unit land is under the Countryside Stewardship An important aim of the Portable Antiquities Scheme the arrangements had to be checked with Scheme has been to increase the role and use of the Department for the Environment, Foods and metal-detectorists in archaeological projects. In Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the County

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and photographed by the Finds Liaison Officer. They may indicate that there was a road through the area along which pilgrims passed and possibly broke their journey. Looking to the future Since the autumn of 1997, when the six pilot Portable Antiquities Schemes to record archaeological objects were established, we have gained a much better picture of the resources needed to sustain a nationwide Scheme of Finds Liaison Officers when the current period of funding ends in March 2006. The Scheme now comprises 46 posts, a central and support unit of nine posts (four Finds Advisers, an Education Officer, an ICT Officer, an Administrator, a Co- ordinator and a Deputy Head), and 37 locally- based Finds Liaison Officer posts. At a cost of about £1.5 million a year the Scheme will provide a proactive and comprehensive finds recording service for members of the public across the whole of England and Wales — which is excellent value for money. The decision whether or not to fund the Scheme in the long-term will be made by the Mark Lodwick investigating a Mark is bagging up the finds Government later this year. Politicians from all Late Bronze Age hoard with before writing on the bag the the major parties have welcomed the success of the finder, Alan Jenkins. exact location of the find and the Scheme to date and hope long-term funding It is essential all finds are any other information will be forthcoming in due course. The correctly recorded and here necessary for researchers. establishment in July 2001 of the All-Party Archaeologist. This required a great deal of time, Parliamentary Archaeology Group by Lord pre-planning and organisation to advise and pull Redesdale, with Lord Renfrew as Chairman, has the relevant parties together. The Finds Liaison been a very positive step forward. The Group is Officer organised meetings with the County now one of the largest all-party groups in Archaeologist and Sites and Monuments Record Parliament with 146 members. Its first report was and then liaised with DEFRA on behalf of the published in January 2003, after a very thorough Yeovil Club to gain permission to detect on the process of public consultation and five committee land. Advice was then given on what areas to sessions in Parliament, at which evidence was avoid, so as not to damage underlying taken from all the key players, on The Current archaeology, and in the correct recording of finds. State of Archaeology in the United Kingdom. One The involvement of the Finds Liaison Officer of its key recommendations is that the paved the way to a satisfactory conclusion for all. Government should give long-term support to the Not only did this result in a successful rally at network of Finds Liaison Officers established which the finds were recorded in more detail than across the whole of England and Wales under the is usual at these events, but the rally also Portable Antiquities Scheme. Estelle Morris has produced a cluster of five pilgrims’ ampullae, rare agreed that the Scheme is a success, so let’s hope objects in Somerset. One was donated to the her department can ensure the Scheme’s long Somerset County Museum, others were drawn term survival!

13 NEWS

Roman Coin Find Rewrites History

The British Museum has announced the significance of a recent find in an article reproduced below. The discovery of a coin (below and right) of a hitherto unrecognised rebel Roman ‘emperor’ — Domitianus — has excited experts at the British Museum and looks set to rewrite history. The coin, part of a hoard, was discovered by Brian Malin whilst using a metal-detector on farmland ten miles from Oxford in April 2003. Richard Abdy (Curator of Roman Coins, British Museum) said ‘so little is known of Domitianus that some scholars have seriously doubted his existence. The new discovery makes it certain both that this

14 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 NEWS shadowy claimant to the Imperial throne existed, There is one other known coin depicting and that he mounted a serious challenge for the Domitianus in existence, which was found in the position of emperor in the troubled period of the Loire area of France in 1900. Since it was unique early 270s AD, known as the Gallic Empire’. and unprecedented the coin was dismissed as a The antiquity of this coin of Domitianus is modern hoax. It then disappeared into the beyond doubt as it came from a hoard consisting collections of a small museum in western France of over 5,000 common Roman coins fused and has only recently been traced. The together in a 3rd century AD pot, which had to Oxfordshire coin matches the French example and be separated by British Museum conservators. together the coins provide the final indisputable proof of the existence of Domitianus. It is possible that there are other coins of Domitianus in existence which have been previously misidentified by the people who found them. The British Museum would encourage people who have ‘Gallic Empire’ coins in their collections to take a look at them again or show them to an expert, such as their local Finds Liaison Officer (see pages 12-13). The Gallic Empire The ‘Gallic Empire’ is the name given to the secessionist state that was created in the aftermath of the Roman Empire’s greatest humiliation. In AD260 the Emperor Valerian was captured alive by the Persians. He was used as a living footstool by the Persian king and upon his death was stuffed and displayed in a Zoroastrian temple. This was the cue for Gaul (the area comprising modern France and the Rhineland) to revolt in order to look after their own security; The map (above) shows the taking Britain and initially the Iberian peninsula extent of the Gallic Empire in with it. An officer called Postumus became the about AD271. Initially Spain first breakaway Gallic ‘emperor’ with his capital had joined the secessionist in Trier — this is the probable location for the state but was won back by minting of the Domitianus coin. AD 269 was a imperial forces loyal to the particularly turbulent year for the Gallic Empire legimtate Roman emperor. with three successors to Postumus staking rival The coin hoard (right) was no claims. Finally power settled on Victorinus (ruled doubt buried for safekeeping by AD269-71). Victorinus was reportedly prone to its owner who never returned. raping the wives of his courtiers. It is possible Abdy continues, ‘there are only two, fleeting that Domitianus was one of these wronged references, to Domitianus in historical sources as husbands and assassinated Victorinus, briefly a high-ranking army officer punished for treason seizing power and taking control of the mint. by the Emperor Aurelian (ruled AD 270-275). But Domitianus must then have been overthrown (an neither identify him as a rebel emperor (called incident left historically unrecorded) by Tetricus, ‘tyrants’ by the official Roman sources). Only the the governor of Aquitaine who became emperor archaeological evidence of this coin shows that he from AD271-4. Tetricus was subsequently was indeed emperor and provides us with a face confronted by the Roman emperor, Aurelian who to go with history’s forgotten ruler’. punished Domitianus for treason.

15 F IELD S CHOOL N EWS

Time Team at Syndale era. The profile of the ditches was ‘V’ shaped, however, and didn't feature the expected military The report which follows can be found on Time Team’s ankle-breaker at the bottom. website: www.???????? Old Farmer Time Excavations conducted by the Kent Archaeological Further excavation in the east of the site Field School at Syndale, in Kent, have produced discovered another Roman enclosure ditch, this some interesting Roman finds. The most exciting time dated to the late was the discovery of what is thought to be an Roman period. ‘ankle-breaker ditch’, a special military design that Investigations at the incorporates a trap at the bottom to perform the centre of the site, task it was named after. meanwhile, found A day or two’s march from where the Romans no evidence for landed in 43 AD, and on the north-Kent route they would have taken on their way to the Thames, could this be the site of the first Roman fort in Britain, substantial features dating back to the apart from what Claudian invasion? As appeared to be a large usual, the Team had rubbish pit or well. three days to find out. Nowhere had any Ridges, terraces and evidence been found banks for military activity. Members of the Field School cobbled surfaces situated in As the geophysics team What did the Field cleaning up one the the Roman ‘High Street”Durolevum. battled to extract School find? information from the confused and tough-to- The archaeologists here had actually discovered interpret landscape, all eyes turned to landscape more substantial ditches, which led us to believe expert Stewart Ainsworth. The ridges, terraces we may have had a more permanent fort. and banks surrounding the site would have been However, for that type of enclosure we would complicated enough anyway, even without the expect large ditches, ramparts and evidence for landscaping that had been carried out over the timber gates on each side and buildings inside the past few hundred years. walls. Using his skill to read the land, though, Stewart So what have the Time Team excavations unravelled the ‘lumps and bumps’ and suggested discovered? that what looked like a defensive perimeter on the In fact, what we’ve found here has been lots of western side of the hill was actually based on little pieces of ditch which don’t appear to relate Iron-Age agricultural terracing which had been to each other. We’ve also had none of the range of adapted during later use of the site. It was time finds we would expect if this was a military for some trenches to make sense of it all. establishment. Yes, we’ve had some Claudian Claudian pottery coins and pottery but nowhere near enough. Excavation uncovered Roman ditches on the What have KAFS found since Time Team western and eastern sides of the site. These Unfortunatly, Time Team only had three days! The features contained Roman pottery from the 1st to Field School spent another three weeks excavating 3rd centuries AD. One fragment was even dated and the report on the Roman military finds will be by pottery expert Malcolm Lyne to the Claudian published at the end of the year.

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F IELD S CHOOL N EWS

which connected the port of entry to Britain, Richborough, with the lowest crossing point of the Thames at London. Any supplies from London needed for the Roman town of Canterbury would have been landed at Durolevum and taken by ver one thousand Roman coins have now road to the city. been recovered from Syndale, recently Although the Dressel 20 amphoras date from Oidentified as the lost Roman town of the early years of the Roman conquest other Durolevum by the Kent Archaeological Field amphora sherds are of eastern Mediteranean School. All of these coins are being dated by Dr origin and date from the mid fifth century. But we Richard Abdy of the British are told by our history books that Museum. The report by Dr Abdy that Roman life and trade had on the coins will be ready by the stopped years earlier. This is the end of the year and will be part importance of archaeology, the of the larger report on the small discovery of material artefacts Roman town of Durolevum at which, once dated, can alter our Syndale. We hope that preconceptions of history. Our continuing work by KAFS after work at Syndale has revealed Time Team’s programme will when Watling Street was actually unravel some of the questions built, not only that, but because posed by this intriguing site. we have sectioned it and planned The number of artefacts in the pottery and coins found in recovered during KAFS the various layers, we can tell excavations has been staggering how many times the road was and includes large amounts of rebuilt and when. The last layer iron military equipment, horse dates to the early fifth century, harnesses, and agricultural but the last people to use it were equipment. Romans. We found in the houses Quantities of Roman pottery Rubbish pit or Ritual Shaft? Opinions and shops that fronted onto recovered from the site runs into are divided, archaeologists from Time Watling Street signs of tens of thousands of sherds, dating Team suggested it could be a ritual destruction and chaos. Shoes and from the late Iron age up to the shaft but when excavated by KAFS other domestic items were early fifth century. An interesting members the only artefacts found scattered all across the surface of were domestic rubbish from the feature of the site is the large Watling Street. This was not a nearby Roman town. But why dig numbers of amphora sherds of a town that had been abandoned such a perfectly round and deep pit? type called Dressel 20. These by its occupants but rather a town amphoras, the jerry cans of antiquity, carried that had died violently and never reoccupied, The anything from olive oil to a type of fish sauce great road, likewise was abandoned and the new called garum. The Roman estate stamps on the settlers of the district, presumably Germanic tribes amphora sherds from Syndale show that they had no need of Roman roads, Roman villa’s or originated from southern Spain and it seems even towns. Civilisation in south-east Britain control of this lucrative trade in the early years of paused for decades, little history was written until conquest was firmly in the hands of the Roman St Augustine landed in Kent with 60 Roman army. So many amphora were found at Syndale monks to start the task of rebuilding the country. that there must have been port facilities attached Land was allocated to the church and off course to the Roman town. Durolevum was built astride had to be recorded, and so history restarted. But the great Roman road, now called Watling Street, what fills the gap? It is of course archaeology, year by year another piece of the missing history is put into place by archaeologists working on sites like H OUSE D ECORATION AT P OMPEII

The people of Pompeii were surrounded by magnificant decorated rooms which have survived to this day. This is an extract about wall paintings and a famous mosaic, taken from Pompeii: the last day by Dr Paul Wilkinson

oethe, the nineteenth-century took his fancy” (Pliny, German traveller Natural History, Vol IX, Gand writer, said books 33-35). that the deaths of the cities To create these of Pompeii and wonderful paintings the Herculaneum were wall had to be prepared significant not for the brevity with up to three coats of life but for the perpetuity of fine plaster. The of art. Art played an background of the important part in the daily picture was painted lives of the inhabitants of first, and left to dry. Pompeii. Although they lived The figures and in a provincial country area, the decoration were then added, people of Pompeii were the paint mixture probably included glue and surrounded by decoration, that wax to give a shine to the surface that was also had a meaning for them. The architecture polished. The subject matter was seldom original, complimented the frescoes, mosaics, stucco reliefs there were no copyright laws in ancient Rome and and sculptures in such a way that it can give us an most Roman paintings (and some sculptures) understanding of how the Romans lived. We can were derived from Greek originals. The more see the cruelty of the gladiatorial contests, see famous the original Greek artist, the more he seem human desires and fantasies at the brothels and to have been copied, and occasionally, emulated. try to understand the secret rites of initiation into the cult of Dionysies at the Villa of the Mysteries. First- and Second-Style Painting But the most exciting experience is seeing the The First Style (according to August Mau) of frescos, mosaics, stucco reliefs and sculptures in painting, dates from the late third century to the the rooms or buildings where the people of early first century BC. It imitates variegated Pompeii and Herculaneum had wished to see and marble, porphyry or alabaster relief marble walls. enjoy them. Occasionally called the Incrustation Style, from To help understand the chronological crusta, a slab of marble, it was executed in stucco development of Pompeian wall painting, the relief and then painted and polished to resemble scholar, August Mau, writing in 1882, established colourful marble walling. The best examples can that there were four styles of wall painting. The be found in the Basilica, the House of the Faun, definition of these four styles is still in use today. and the Temple of Jupiter at Pompeii. Painting in The name of one painter has survived from the this style sometimes displayed small architectural many that must have painted at Pompeii. Pliny features which became more widespread and the Younger wrote that a painter called Studius, evolved into the Second Style of painting. Also who lived at the time of Augustus, introduced to known as the ‘Architectural Style’, it dated from Pompeii: “the delightful style of decorating walls the end of the second century to the beginning of with representations of villas, harbours, landscape the first century BC. The wall paintings were gardens, sacred groves, woods, hills, fish ponds, much more theatrical with the image frequently straits, streams and shores, any scene in short that divided into three areas, top, middle and bottom.

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The middle area was divided vertically with walls, gave the illusion of extending the garden columns. Vitruvius wrote that theatrical ‘scaena’ and making it look larger. The idea was not new, influenced Roman interiors: “Tragic scenes are Greek painters had been warming to the theme delineated with columns, pediments, statues.” from at least the second century BC. The first (Vitruvius The Ten Books of Architecture V8). landscape painter whose name is known – The use of such architectural motifs made the Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, had been painting wall seem three-dimensional, windows were in Rome from 164 BC, and was called a painted onto the walls, they seemed to open onto topograpos, or landscape painter. Some of the best vistas that were made to appear to be in the distance by the use of misty contours and diminishing colours. The best example is probably the wonderful series of paintings from a room at the Villa of Publius Fannius Sinistor, a country villa located just to the north of Pompeii near Boscoreale. The pictures are divided off from one another by thin columns, which give the room the appearance of a pergola looking out onto the vistas of other columned halls, streets and houses. The Boscoreale paintings introduce another

The frieze of cherubs (left) The portrait of Terentius Neo decorates the triclinium wall in and his wife (above) comes the House of the Vettii. from the tablinum in his house.

examples are in the atrium of the House of Fabius Amandio (I.7. 2-3) where a group of three birds sits on the rim of a marble birdbath, and, a little further afield, the Villa of Poppaea at Oplontis. Another new pictorial element introduced in the Second Style is the representation of monumental figures within architectural frameworks called megalography by historians. element of the second style, which is the vista of The best example is the stunning series of rural arcadia shown through an illusionary paintings found in the triclinium (dining room) of opening painted into the architectural framework. the Villa of Mysteries, just outside the Subject matter ranged from flocks and herds Herculaneum Gate at Pompeii. The villa, a huge shepherded by rustics in a timeless landscape, to ninety-room mansion contains the most famous of formal parks with pavilions and shrines. Clients all Pompeian paintings. The decoration consists of sometimes wished their own garden to be twenty-nine life-size figures seemingly involved painted, either as it was, or, more usually, how it in rites associated with Bacchus. They show the should be. Painting pictures of flowers, extended preparations for a wedding, the scourging of a gardens, shrubs and birds on the surrounding woman, the playing of a lyre, women dancing and

19 so on, the figures seem totally preoccupied and in occasionally called the ‘Fantastic’ or ‘Illusionist’ almost a spiritual trance, completely oblivious to style. There are numerous examples in Pompeii the outside world. It has been said that the people and Herculaneum because the fourth style of in the paintings seem entirely absorbed in their painting was being used at the time of the own existence, engrossed in their pursuits and earthquake of AD62. The extensive restoration abiding completely unconcerned about us, in a and re-painting that happened, following the world apart from ours. It seems that the bride-to- serious damage inflicted to the houses by the be has to undergo terrible torments of a physical earthquake, meant that there was much work and sexual nature to win salvation with the cult of done in the fourth style. It has been estimated that Bacchus. The date of the painting has yet to be up to seventeen painters were at work in Pompeii resolved, it could be from the time of Caesar or following the earthquake. from the early part of The fourth style is of Augustus’ reign. a pot-pouri of elements from the Third-Style Painting second style, the It is likely that the third style and the Third Style of inclusion of stucco painting, also known reliefs into the as ‘Ornamental’ paintings, as seen in developed under the Stabian and Augustus and Forum Baths at continued under Pompeii. The Claudius (20BC – architectural AD40-60). The style structures in the is simpler and more paintings appear organised than the unreal and the second style. The decoration fussy. walls are more solid, Some of the better with fewer dramatic examples of this architectural motifs. style of painting can The central panel be found in the Pair of feminine theatrical masks of the Golden Bracelet situated in was usually painted decorating the walls of the House the southern district of Pompeii. House of the Tragic quite dark, Poet (VI.8.5), the occasionally black, and the painting in the centre House of Loreius Tiburtinus (II.8.5) and the House of the panel had become much smaller and was of the Vettii (VI.15.1), which has a wonderful usually mounted on ornate and intricate painted painting on the east wall of the dining room candelabras. The borders of the panels were (triclinium), depicting the punishment of Ixion, a delicate frames of foliage arabesques, candelabras, story of infidelity, betrayal and punishment. masks and ribbons. One of the best examples is in The dates given for the four styles of painting the tablinum of the House of Marcus Lucretivs can only be approximate. Clients’ tastes must have Fronto (IV.V.4-10) where the top part of the wall changed slowly and painters were probably was painted in a delicate architectural fantasy, reluctant to discard a style of painting they were similar to the backdrop (scaenae frons) of a adroit in. There has been much discussion about theatre. Below the central panels, the dado whether the wall paintings of Pompeii are true painting showed a marvellous garden, complete ‘frescoes’ i.e. painted rapidly onto recently laid with garden walls in white marble and damp plaster. A large room, recently excavated at embellished with an urn fountain and white the house of the Chaste Lovers (I.10.11) was found marble benches awaiting prospective visitors. to be in the process of being painted at the time of the eruption. The technique being used, in this Fourth-Style Painting case, was defiantly fresco, but it is difficult to tell The Fourth Style of painting, covers a whole host in other cases. of different styles and types of paintings and is Pompeii the last day is published by BBC Books, price £16.99.

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Floor Mosaics: The Alexandra Mosaic thousand square metres (32,290 sq feet) Some remarkable examples of the old Greek making it the largest house in Pompeii. The carpet technique have been found, where the mosaic was found in the exedra, a room with mosaic is in the form of a picture rather than a view out into the peristyle garden, and used an overall decorative pattern. One of the best for entertaining guests...The battle scene and examples is the famous mosaic floor depicting the four floral corner motifs were executed Alexander the Great in battle found in 1831, at with extremely small tesserae — on average, the House of the Faun. The year after the discovery of the mosaic Goethe wrote: “The present and the future will not succeed in commenting correctly on this artistic marvel, and we must always return, after having studied and explained it, to simple, pure

The most famous floor Alexander the Great found each one is three millimetres square — and mosaic to be recovered from at the House of the Faun there are over four million individual cubes in Pompeii is undoubtably the originally located in the the mosaic. The colouring is the natural colour mosaic portraying exedra. found in the type of limestone used. Close examination of the mosaic has revealed that at wonder.” The battle portrayed is not that of some time in antiquity it had been cut into Issus in 333BC, but the rout of the Persians at two parts and transported to Pompeii, Gaugamela in 331. It is thought the mosaic, is possibly from an area recently conquered by based on a Greek painting by Philoxenus of the Romans. It is all too apparent that the Eretria for King Cassander (305-297BC), but exedra where it was located is far too small to recently the suggestion has been mooted that contain it. Guests standing at the doorway... the painting may be the work of Apelles, one would not have been able to see the whole of the most famous painter from antiquity. battle scene and if they stepped back to get a The House of the Faun is one of the most better view, they would have found the magnificent residences in Pompeii, covering a Corinthian columns in the way. whole block; its ground area is some three

21 A ERIAL S URVEY

‘If you are studying the development of the landscape in an area, almost any air photograph is likely to contain a useful piece of information’. (Interpreting the Landscape from the Air, Mick Aston, 2002).

erial photography is one of the most vertical aerial photographs at important remote the NMR, Swindon. Asensing tools Aerial photographs are available to archaeologists. merely raw data, the The development of aerial photograph needs to be photography goes hand-in- examined so that the hand with the development terrain can be interpreted of the aeroplane and and archaeological traces camera. A 1906 photograph from features located. taken on a plate camera in a Aerial photographs are balloon floating above of two main types; Stonehenge is one of our oblique and vertical. Oblique aerial earliest aerial photographs, photographs, taken at an angle to reveal contours (right) whilst in 2003 satellite imagery of the Iraq and shadows, are best for discovering sites, deserts revealed to American archaeologists vertical photographs are more useful for mapping. hundreds of miles of buried roads from the However, it is possible, using appropriate earliest empires of that region. A pioneer in aerial computer software programmes and at least four photography was O.G.S. Crawford. Funded by the known points on the ground, to map an area quite marmalade millionaire Alexander Keiller, accurately from an oblique photograph. Vertical Crawford photographed from the air photographs can be overlapped to give a three- archaeological sites in central southern England, dimensional effect through stereoscopic viewing and the results were published in their classic lenses. The height of buildings and structures can book Wessex from the Air. then be measured. During the Second World War there were huge Oblique photographs taken at low altitude are advances in technology, and aerial reconnaissance the most important means of discovering sites produced first-class photographs. Archaeologists from the air because they provide perspective and were involved in aerial photograph interpretation, a clearer view than vertical photographs and are and after the war an aerial photographic unit was generally taken specifically for the purpose, founded by Keith St Joseph which in 1949 became whereas verticals are taken for general purposes. the Cambridge University Committee for Air There are three main archaeological features to Photography (now the Unit for Landscape be identified from aerial photography; they are: Modelling). Its contribution has been invaluable shadow sites, crop mark and soil marks sites. with hundreds of sites located, and an aerial Shadow sites are usually the most visible photograph taken, say, 30 years ago will show archaeological features to be seen in the features that may now have been removed. landscape. Any site with lumps and bumps like In 1967 The Royal Commission on the Historical banks or ditches has the potential to show Monuments of England (RCHME) organised a shadows. In the raking light of low sun, early or national aerial reconnaissance programme which late in the day, the site can spring to life in entailed the collection of existing photographs, the fascinating detail. Shadows will only be cast more acquisition of the RAF’s collection of photographs, or less at right angles to the sun’s rays. If a bank and the commissioning of aerial photography by or ditch runs parallel to the source of light it will independent flyers. The success of this policy can be difficult to see. It is essential to take aerial be seen in the 400,000 oblique and 2.4 million photographs at different times of the day and the

22 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 year to capture all of the site features to be seen. wheat, barley, oats — it is worthwhile to keep an Shadow sites can also be seen and surveyed on eye on the field, and as the crop turns from green the ground, but crop and soil marks can generally to yellow to photograph it from the air. This will only be seen from the air. be the optimum time to discover crop marks. Cropmark sites are some of the best indicators Soil marks are usually at their best in ploughed of buried features on a site. The variation in fields. Every feature on an archaeological site is height of the crop, colour and vigour of growth likely to be made out of different soils. Colour and can help find features beneath the surface. Where texture of the soil is the key indicator. Ditches may the soil is damp, as in a buried ditch or pit, the be in filled with a dark silty soil; robbed wall vegetation will be taller, greener and more dense. foundations may show as streaks of grey lime This is a positive crop mark. But over a buried mortar, ploughed-out barrows may show as a building the soil above the walls will be thinner, dark circle enclosing streaked re-deposited natural drier, and the vegetation will be sparser. This is a soil. Differences in moisture can reveal hidden

The central feature in the air The surrounding earthworks However, the other Neolithic in this field of peas which photograph is is called Church have been protected from and Bronze Age sites have were starved of water during Henge after the Norman damage by the plough and still been destroyed by ploughing the summer drought of 1995 church located inside it. survive almost intact. but the remains show up well (English Heritage). negative crop mark. The greener, dense vegetation ditches or even the walls of a buried building. appears darker from the air and almost black on After rain, the buried building’s walls will retain existing black and white aerial photographs. moisture longer than the surrounding soil and Visibility of crop marks will change throughout leave a damp mark. Conversely, after frost, the the growing season, and indeed on a day-to-day cold walls of a buried building will retain the frost basis. Different crops will react differently to soil over the buried walls longer than will the conditions, and ... grass has to be really parched surrounding soil. These soil mark patterns may be before any buried features become apparent. The extremely clear or very blurred because of long- most useful plants for crop marks are wheat, term ploughing of the site. Either way, they are a barley, peas, sugar beet, and maize. If a site is good indicator of the survival of the buried subject to crop rotation, take aerial photographs features as seen from the air. over a number of years. For the corn crops — Abridged from Archaeological Surveying and Recording,by Paul Wilkinson, to be published by Tempus Publishimg. 23 B OOK R EVIEWS

Our book reviews offer readers a selection of some of the best recently published archaeology books. KAFS members may enjoy a 10% discount on any of the books ordered.

Piltdown Man: The Secret Life of Charles Dawson & book, Russell examines the discoveries made by The World’s Greatest Archaeological Hoax,by Miles Dawson, and shows that many were false. Russell (£14.99) Dawson came from a middle-class family and went to work for a firm of solicitors at the age of In December 1912, an exciting discovery was 16. Over the next few years he persued his made public; the skull of the earliest human had amateur interest in fossils and been found in Piltdown, Sussex. geology in general, to the extent It was apparently the that he became an ‘honorary first piece of evidence for collector’ of the British Museum the ‘missing link’ in the and a fellow of the Geological development of humans Society at the age of just 21. from the apes, as Within two years, however, he propounded by Charles was to perpetrate his first Darwin in his thesis On the fraud, filing down an animal Ascent of Man, originally tooth to suggest the discovery published some fifty years of a new species. From 1891 earlier. The first headline, onwards Dawson was announcing the find to an involved in a series of finds astonished world, was that gained him the title of made by the Manchester fellow of the Society of Guardian, ‘The Earliest Man?: Antiquaries by 1895. Russell Remarkable Discovery in examines these finds in his Sussex. A Skull Millions of book and proves that most Years Old’. However, of them were hoaxes. Piltdown man, as this early It then appears that human came to be known, Dawson sought a made the headlines again fellowship at the Royal years later, when the skull was Society and decided that the best way to declared a forgery. In achieve this would be to discover the ‘missing November 1953, the London Star wrote that it was link’. From 1909 to 1912 Dawson made a series of ‘The Biggest Scientific Hoax of the Century’. finds in and near Piltdown, that culminated in a This book is an investigation into the hoax and skull that was part human and part ape and was the chief culprit, Chalres Dawson. But it is more acknowledged as the missing link. It was not than just a thrilling whodunnit, it is a fascinating until discoveries of more early human remains examination of a series of discoveries made by were made over the next few decades and dating Dawson, culminating in Piltdown man. Dawson techniques improved that Piltdown man was was a respected solicitor and a notable figure in exposed as a hoax. For over forty years, Dawson Sussex, he was an amateur archaeologist, had tricked almost everyone, from family and geologist and an antiquarian. But as Russell says, friends to the academic world. This master forger ‘He was all these things and more. He was also a man is finally unmasked in the book and all his first-rate forger, fraudster, fabricator, hoaxer, secrets laid bare. Russell’s lively and informative manipulator, trickster and liar... He was indeed a writing style combines clear analysis of the facts veritable Jekyll and Hyde’. In his well researched with all the elements of an intriguing story.

24 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003

The Celts: Origins, Myths & Inventions,by John Lines on the Landscape, Circles from the Sky,by Collis (£19.99) Trevor Garnham (£17.99) This is an extremely complex book that, in describing a group of peoples, the Celts, explains Another complex book, unlike The Celts, this is a that it is less an identifiable group then a concept study limited in time, the Neolithic period, and that has changed place, the Orkney Islands. However, Garnham over the years. takes the reader on a journey through Although written anthropology, mythology, comparative religion by the Professor and folklore to explain the archaeology of the of Archaeology, islands. As a lecturer in architecture, he expertly Collis says that, describes the ‘anyone dealing structures on with the Celts has the islands, to range over a from the best- number of preserved different Neolithic houses disciplines: in Europe, to classical texts and burial tombs, historical such as the criticism; cairns of linguistics; archaeology; art history; genetics; Rousay; from anthropology’. These topics form the chapters of the Stones of the book and Collis also looks at how definitions Stenness to the of the Celts have altered over the years and in Ring of Brodgar different parts of Europe. and the burial After an exhaustive study of the Celts and all mound of Maes that they have meant, Collis looks at current Howe. Good- controversies surrounding them. He succinctly quality concludes with a series of points that summarise photographs and reconstructions, such as one of a his radical reinterpretation of the Celts. house at Skara Brae, really bring the stones to life. Garnham goes beyond this to try to show the Environmental Archaeology,by Keith Wilkinson & meaning that these structures had to people who Chris Stevens (£25) constructed them, he explains their view of the world and the cosmos. A fascinating study for The authors explain anyone interested in the Neolithic concept of the that ‘environmental world, as well as their architecture. archaeology concerns the study of vegetation (flora) and animals o order, KAFS members may discount (fauna), which lived in 10% on the published price shown. association with the TPlease send a cheque for...... people of the past, and made payable to Tempus Publishing Ltd. the way in which Name...... humans interacted with Delivery address...... these other living ...... organisms…(it) is also ...... about reconstructing the physicality of the ...... landscapes in which people lived, hunted and Send to: Tempus Publishing Ltd, The Mill, farmed’. This book covers techniques, such as Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Glos GL5 2QG, pollen analysis and insect studies. It also shows or alternatively call 01453 88 33 00 with your how the discipline can answer questions about credit card details. past peoples. An excellent book for non-specialists.

25 T HE K ENT A RCHAEOLOGICAL F IELD S CHOOL C OURSES

The listing of archaeological courses for Autumn 2003. The fee is £35 a day unless otherwise stated, and if you become a member there is a 10% discount on full prices, except field trips. To join, fill in the form on the last page of the magazine, and to book a course fill in the form on page 31. For further details of courses, access our web site at www.kafs.co.uk.

March 20th & 21st, Field the days they wish. Topics taught each day are: Walking and Map Friday: History of the Site & Why Dig?; Saturday: Analysis Excavation Techniques; Sunday: Site Survey; Field work at its most Monday: Archaeological Recording; Tuesday: basic involves walking Small Finds Recording. The non-member’s fee is across the landscape £35 per day, KAFS member’s special fee is £30 per recording features seen on day. the ground. On this weekend April 24th & 25th, The Past from the Air course we are concerned with recognising and recording artefacts found within Prehistoric farms, the plough soil. These include flint tools, building Roman roads and material, pottery, glass and metal artefacts. One of villas, lost medieval the uses of field walking is to build up a database settlements are all for large-scale regional archaeological surveys. hidden in the We will consider the importance of regressive landscape but can map analysis as part of this procedure. The course clearly be seen from will cover: Strategies and Procedures, Standard the air. Specialists from and Non-standard Linewalking, Grid Walking, English Heritage will Pottery Distribution, Identifying pottery and show students various building ceramics. types of aerial photographs and April 3rd & 4th, Field Trip to Stonehenge and explain the skills Avebury needed to interpret them. There will be a practical See facing page for details. exercise using aerial photographs to find and record a site in Kent. Easter, April 9th to April 18th, Excavation of a Medieval Palace at Teynham May 1st, 2nd and 3rd, Discovering Archaeological Sites Our fifth season of field work and excavation at Teynham will concentrate on excavating the We shall look at the ways in which archaeological medieval manor house kitchens of the sites are discovered and excavated, and study the Archbishop of Canterbury’s summer palace and techniques used to pinpoint sites. During the the newly discovered medieval and Roman three days of the bank holiday we will locate, buildings close to the church farm. Beginners survey and excavate, with test trenching, a should book for the first five days, with the previously unknown prehistoric site near Bridge option to continue for further days (same daily to the east of Canterbury, in the very best fee applies). Experienced participants may book traditions of Time-Team.

26 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003

S T ONEHENGE AND AVEBURY

A PRIL 3 RD & 4TH 2004

Join us on a journey through entry fees but does not the mysterious prehistoric include meals, landscape of western Britain. accommodation, or travel We will travel back in time to other than specified. a long-lost past and follow in Provisional Itinerary the footsteps of people who Saturday 3rd April 2004 built magnificent 10am Pick up Salisbury monuments more than 4,000 Station years ago and yet left no 11am – 2pm Avebury written accounts of their standing stones, including deeds. Megaliths, long free time for lunch barrows and earthworks 2.15pm – 4pm Silbury Hill, stand as impressive markers in a religious West Kennet long barrow, The Sanctuary landscape and our expert tour leader, Mike 5pm Drop off at Salisbury Station Pitts, will reveal the possible meanings of the sites, as well as how they were constructed Sunday 4th April 2004 and by whom. Mike Pitts is the only living 7.15am Pick up at Salisbury Station archaeologist to have directed excavations at 8am Stonehenge — private access (please note Stonehenge and Avebury. He is the author of that this is subject to English Heritage two acclaimed books Fairweather Eden and permission) Hengeworld. Mike Pitts will be accompanied 9.30 – 10am Break by Dr Paul Wilkinson. 10am – 12.30pm Woodhenge and Durrington The trip costs £110 and includes transport Walls, Old Sarum from Salisbury to the sites, guided tours and 1pm Drop off at Salisbury Station

27 KAFS COURSES

May 8th to May 14th, KAFS Field Trip to Imperial Rome

The KAFS club trip abroad for 2004. See page 5 July 3rd & 4th, Landscape Archaeology for details. A course designed for all those who want to know more about the English landscape. Six main May 15th to May 22nd, Field Trip to Pompeii and categories of information will be studied: Field Herculaneum archaeology, aerial photography, maps, local See page 6 for details. history and place-names. Dr Paul Wilkinson will guide us through the countryside to show how to May 29th, 30th & 31st, Investigating an apply archaeological theory to interpret and Archaeological Site understand the landscape. A practical three-day bank holiday course on a July 10th & 11th, Prehistoric Flints newly discovered Roman villa near Faversham. We will survey the extent of the villa and sample, through excavation, the quality of survival of the structure. There will be experts on site to date Roman pottery and coins as they are revealed by excavation. June 5th & 6th, Bones and Burials Osteo-archaeology is the study of human remains. The course will be led by Trevor Anderson, consultant to Canterbury Archaeological Trust, who has appeared on Meet the Ancestors. The course will cover the on-site recording of human remains and how they can reveal information Apractical weekend course on the identification about the person’s age, sex and state of health. of prehistoric flint and stone with Terry Hardaker Excavated skeletons will be available for study and Hugo Lamdin-Whymark of the Oxford and analysis in practical sessions. Archaeological Unit. They will explain the technology used to produce prehistoric tools from June 19th to June 26th, Field Trip to Roman Provence all periods. A practical exercise on field walking See page 7 for details. and flint knapping with John Lord will take place on Sunday.

28 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 KAFS COURSES

August 21st & 22nd, Field Trip to Hadrian’s Wall See over for details. August 21st to September 5th, Excavation at Syndale, near Faversham, Site of the Roman Town of Durolevum The site of the lost Roman town of Durolevum (left) is now established at Syndale, near Faversham. The town appears in the Antonine Itinerary, but its location was later forgotten, until it was July 17th to August 1st, Excavation of a Roman re-discovered and confirmed as the site of the Villa town by the activities of the Kent Archaeological This year we will spend two weeks excavating Field School. Previous work by KAFS and Time and recording a high-status Roman building at Teram (below) has revealed a plethora of Roman Hog Brook near Faversham. The villa was buildings. This year we will spend two weeks previously unknown and has never been excavating and recording Roman buildings on the explored by archaeologists. Initial work suggests a substantial bath house which may be attached to a large villa, Beginners are welcome on the Monday to Friday courses, with the option to continue for further days (same daily fee applies). Experienced participants may book the days they wish. Topics taught each day are: Monday: History of the Site & Why dig? Tuesday: Excavation Techniques; Wednesday: Site Survey; Thursday: Archaeological Recording; Friday: Small Finds Recording. The non-member’s fee is £35 per day, KAFS member’s special fee is £30 per day. west side of the town. Beginners are welcome on August 7th & 8th, Geophysical Surveying for the Monday to Friday courses, with the option to Archaeologists continue for further days (same daily fee applies). Archaeological geophysical survey plays a Experienced participants may book the days they vital role in field work. It provides a wish. Topics taught each day are: Monday: framework for detailed recording and helps us History of the Site & Why dig? Tuesday: to analyse a site. Methods from basic optical Excavation Techniques; Wednesday: Site Survey; site levels to laser technology, resistivity and Thursday: Archaeological Recording; Friday: Ground Penetrating Radar will be taught. Small Finds Recording. Practical exercises will take place at Syndale, The non-member’s fee is £35 per day, KAFS our late summer excavation site. member’s special fee is £30 per day.

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See below for details. September 11th & 12th, Archaeological DrawingA October 30th & 31st, beginner’s and refresher course introducing How to Identify Roman, participants to drawing archaeological artefacts. Anglo-Saxon and The reasons for drawing artefacts and the Medieval Pottery principles of archaeological illustration will be The course will intro- taught. There will be practical sessions each day duce students to the demonstrating how to illustrate pottery, bone, practical metal and other artefacts found on archaeological problems of identifying sites. Course led by Jane Russell, who was senior Roman, Anglo-Saxon illustrator of the UCL Field Archaeology Unit. and Medieval pottery. September 18th to September 25th, Field Trip to The types of pottery Pompeii and Herculaneum from each period will be explained and examples will be available for See page 6 for details. examination. A course for those who want to dis- October 9th to October 16th, Field Trip to Roman and tinguish the many types of pottery found on British sites. Medieval Spain December 4th to December 9th, Field Trip to Roman See page 8 for details. Germany October 23rd & 24th, Field Trip to Bath and the See page 9 for details. Roman Cotswolds

B ATH AND THE R OMAN C OTSWALDS

O CTOBER 23RD &24TH

We will spend the weekend visiting the Roman bath complex at Bath, Chedworth Roman villa and the newly reopened museum at Cirencester in the Cotswolds. The course will be led by Stephen Clews, curator of the Roman Baths Museum, who will take us on an exclusive tour behind the scenes in the Roman bath complex and offer special access to the bathouse and mosaics at Great Whitcombe Roman Villa. We will be running this trip with BBC History Magazine, but KAFS members only may attend for £110 for the weekend, which includes entrance fees and transport through the Cotswolds on Saturday.

30 Issue No. 8 Autumn 2003 KAFS COURSES

F IELD T RIP TO H ADRIANS WALL

A UGUST 21ST & 22ND.

An exciting trip to the very edge of the Roman Empire. We will visit Housesteads, Birdoswald, Vindolanda and South Shields Roman forts (right) the Roman military baths at Chesters, the Roman supply depot at Corbridge, and the working replica Roman baths at Segedunum. Our guide is Professor David Breeze, author and expert on Hadrian’s Wall. We will be running this trip with History Today, but KAFS members only may attend for £110 for the weekend, which includes entrance fees and coach travel along the Wall.

K AFS B OOKING F ORM

The Kent Archaeological Field School, School Farm Oast, Graveney Road, Name of Course………………………………… Faversham, Date of Course………………………………….. Kent ME13 8UP. Your Name……………………………………… Tel: 01795 532548 Address…………………………………………… Website: www.kafs.co.uk E-mail: …………………………………………………… [email protected] ………...... …………………………………… Please note that courses are bookable in advance only and …………………Postcode………………… are non-refundable or transferable. Member’s 10% discount Tel No...... does not apply to special fees and field trips. Children under 16 E-mail address...... years old are welcome on courses, but must be accompanied by I enclose a cheque (payable to KAFS) an adult; under-16s are not allowed on excavations. for…………...... Please return this form with full payment to:–

31 MEMBERSHIP FORM Practical Archaeology

‘Practical Archaeology’ is published quarterly for members of the Kent Archaeological Field School Club. Membership for a single person is £15. Membership for two adults is £25, and family membership (two adults and two children under 16 years old*) is £30. Membership will entitle you to priority booking with a 10% discount on courses at the Kent Archaeological Field School, except where special members’ fees apply, and on special ‘members only’ field trips. Please return the form to: Kent Archaeological Field *Please note that children under 16 years old School, School Farm Oast, are welcome on courses, if accompanied by Graveney Road, Faversham, Kent, an adult, but under-16s are not allowed ME13 8UP. on excavations.

BANKERS ORDER (FOR MEMBERSHIP) (Please return to us and NOT to your bank) To...... …………… (Name of your bank) ...... (Your branch address)

Please pay to the Midland Bank, 281 Chiswick High Road, W4 (40-02-13) for the account of ‘Practical Archaeology’ (A/c No. 61241001) the sum of £...... on the date of receipt of this form and thereafter the same amount annually on the same date until further notice. Your Name...... Type of membership...... Your Address...... ……...... Postcode...... Your Account number...... Your sort code...... Tel. no...... Signature...... Date......

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