What are borders for? It is a question that has recentlygone mainstream. Debate about ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ bordersfinds a parallel in attempts to determine whether Romanborders blocked or simply regulated movement. In thisregard, the true nature of Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall remains a mystery. As the modern world is remindingus, though, the nature of the controls they imposed couldhave far-reaching consequences. We examine the impactof Rome’s most remarkable border systems.
Behind the frontiers, the vast majority of Britons lived in the countryside. Although Roman villas have long attracted attention, recent decadeshave delivered an explosion in information about more modest farmsteads. Muchof this has emerged from excavations linked to development work, and now a majorproject is drawing it together to tell a remarkable story of everyday farming folk.
A major discovery during construction work at Larkhill, Wiltshire, dates back to well before the Roman period. The remains of a previously unsuspected causewayedenclosure have been found on a hillside just outside the Stonehenge World HeritageSite, raising questions about the early Neolithic focus of this landscape.
Meanwhile, at Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire, excavations provide a rare glimpseinto the life of a named individual from the distant past, bringing us face to face with a medieval priest.
Finally, this issue brings the 2017 Digs Guide. I’m looking forward to meeting some of you outin the field over the summer.
Matt Symonds
IN THIS ISSUE:/n
FEATURES/n
ROME’S HOMES ON THE RANGE/n
Revealing the Romano-Britishcountryside
How did the majority of the population live inRoman Britain? Casting aside the glamour of thecountry villa, we explore rural settlement to find out what constituted normal living.
THE LARKHILLCAUSEWAYED ENCLOSURE/n
Rethinking the early NeolithicStonehenge landscape
Excavations at Larkhill in Wiltshire have uncovered theremains of an early Neolithic causewayed enclosure,providing new insights about what would becomethe Stonehenge landscape. We investigate the marks left on the hillside by the fi rst farmers and by soldierstraining in the First World War.
HARD OR SOFT BORDERS?/n
The Roman experience in Britain
In the north of the province, we take a look atHadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall. What wastheir purpose, and how did these monumental frontiers influence everyday life nearby?
RICHARD DE WISPETON/n
A face-to-face encounter witha medieval Lincolnshire priest
On the 700th anniversary of his death, we gaze on the unusual grave of Richard de Wispeton,a medieval priest given an elaborate burial in a prestigious part of Thornton Abbey.
NEWS/n
Britain’s earliest Iron Age gold objects found in Leek;Bronze Age weapon hoard found at Carnoustie;Grime’s Graves prehistoric mine opened to the public;Gower footprints lead further back in time; Tracking the Bronze Age at Mersea Island; Ecclesiastical cluesin Nottingham?; Finds tray
REGULARS/n
Digs Guide 2017
This special section gives a taste of the projectsyou can get involved in this summer
Comment
Joe Flatman excavates the CA archive
Context
Untangling 8,000 years of humanactivity in a Worcestershire field
Reviews
Letters from Baghdad; A Geography of Offerings;Medieval Wexford; Art and Architecture in NeolithicOrkney; Standing Stones; Roman Artefacts and Society
Museum
Meeting the Romans at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum
Conference
A round-up of what happened at CA Live! 2017
Sherds
Chris Catling’s irreverent take onheritage issues
Odd Socs
Caring for God’s Acre
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