This issue is about taking a fresh look at some old problems. When did Roman Britain end? What was the point of rock art? When did medieval halls go out of fashion? How reliable are old excavation records? These are the big questions addressed in our main features this issue.
In the Late Roman Empire, West Britain was the Province of Britannia Prima. In our first article, Roger White examines
the archaeological evidence for an enduring Romanitas in the region. Meanwhile, George Nash has been exploring
Anglesey’s chambered Neolithic tombs in search of rock art missed by previous investigators, and coming up with new ideas about Stone Age death-rituals.
On the other side of the country, John Shepherd has also been reopening old case-books, in this case Norfolk’s only decorated
mosaic — at Gayton Thorpe Villa. Still in Norfolk, a team of volunteer researchers have discovered evidence in the village of New Buckenham that avante-garde architects were building modern houses instead of medieval halls long before the Elizabethans.
And, we celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Antiquaries of London: Chris Catling looks at how study of the past has changed between 1707 and the present, as new discoveries, new techniques and new theories have impacted upon the London Antiquarians. Miles Russell still thinks they are out of date, arguing that NASA should employ an archaeologist to look for alien civisation in space.
BRITANNIA PRIMA
Evidence from West Britain supports the region’s position as the last bastion of Romanitas.
‘LEARNED AND CURIOUS MEN’:
300 YEARS OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES IN LONDON
The Society turns 300 with a new exhibition and modern appeal.
GRAVES, SYMBOLS, AND THE STONE AGE WAY OF DEATH
We highlight recent discoveries and new theories about rock art from Anglesey.
RESCUING A NORFOLK MOSAIC FROM THE PLOUGH
Norfolk’s sole Roman mosaic at the mysterious site of Gayton Thorpe.
THE AVANT-GUARDE ARCHITECTS OF LATE MEDIEVAL NORFOLK
Evidence from New Buckenham suggests that the town was way ahead of the ‘Great Rebuilding’.
MILES RUSSELL
The archaeology of Dr. Who.
ODD SOCS
The Milestone Society
BOOKS
The Dig; Landscape Archaeology and GIS;
Killing Time: archaeology and the First
World War.
LAST WORD
The Roman Society; Amicus Curiae
