Session organisers / Chairpersons:
Hannes Flück, (E-mail: Hannes.Flueck@archaeologe.ch)
Paul Franzen, (Paul.Franzen@tele2.nl)
The last Roman Frontier Studies conferences (Limeskongresse) treated us to several different approaches towards the military vici, the canabae legionis and the towns. Topics like their legal status, the topography of the vici or their economic function(s), all had their place at the RFS. Recently, and outside the RFS, several comprehensive studies were published on (parts of) the canabae legionis at e. g. Carnuntum or Vindonissa.
So far, the small finds from all these sites took a back seat. We define small finds here as those finds, that come in reasonable numbers, e.g. metal finds, glass, worked bones, stone etc. Is it possible to use small finds beyond their obvious dating purposes, and to add to our knowledge on military vici and towns? With several large scale excavations since the 1980’s at our back, with their emphasis on stratigraphy and the combination between finds and features, we think this should be possible.
For instance, the following questions could be put forward:
- Is there a difference in the small finds assemblages from the canabae and military vici to those from the purely civilian sites which exist in close proximity to the forts and fortresses?
- Which similarities and differences can be seen in the assemblages between these sites (vici and canabae) and the forts and fortresses?
- Can we differentiate social classes within the canabae and military vici, or is it all the same? The same question could be applied to the purely civilian sites on the Limes, and how do they compare with the canabae and military vici?
- Have we any idea what a typical assemblage is, for any of these sites, i.e. what is the norm?
- Are there certain categories of small finds that are especially well suited to answer some of the questions above?
And of course we are open for any other stimulating questions along the lines sketched here.
Proposals, including an abstract of not more than 500 Words in English can be sent to:
Hannes.Flueck@archaeologe.ch and Paul.Franzen@tele2.nl.
Confirmed participants for this session:
- Hannes Flück: Bling for the fling – a fibulae assemblage from the canabae legionis of Vindonissa and its interpretation
- Paul Franzen: What can small finds do for you? Weights as an indication for trade and commerce and as a means to determine whether the context is military or civilian.
- Birgitta Hoffmann: Glass in the military settlements: between local production and luxury acquisitions
- Anna Walas: Finds distribution analysis and the relationships between fort and annex at Flavian Elginhaugh, Scotland
- Tony Wilmott: Small finds and environmental evidence from the seating ban of the Chester amphitheatre
- Orsolya Lang, Andrew Wilson: First steps on a long way: preliminary results of the research of millstones from the settlement complex of Aquincum (working title).
- Stefanie Hoss (presenting), Julia Chorus, Julie Van Kerckhove and Carlijn van Maaren: Vicus on the Rhine: the mini-vici of the Lower Rhine between Utrecht and the sea.