September 7th, 2007 by Philippa Walton
And just in case you are really interested, here’s an edited version of my Research Design for the project. As you can see I’ve only got a little bit of work to do!!
1 Summary
The 46812 Roman coins recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme Database (PASD) represent an enormous, untapped digital resource. They have the potential to transform our knowledge of coin use and loss throughout the Romano-British landscape and answer wider social and economic questions. This project will unlock their potential, complementing and building upon existing research, most notably that undertaken by Richard Reece (Reece, 1995).
2 Project Aims
This project has three aims: to identify individual coin assemblages and produce graphical and statistical syntheses of these; to interpret the data to explore a range of research questions; and to publish the results as widely as possible.
2.1 To identify individual coin assemblages on the PASD and to produce graphical and statistical syntheses of these assemblages
The first step will assess the quality of coin data on the PASD, and where possible improve existing records. I will identify likely geographical and selection biases in the dataset and put in place processes to correct for these. Once biases have been accounted for, I will then select a number of assemblages from individual sites within target regions. Within these regions, I will employ GIS software to map the geographical distribution of sites, whilst using Reece tables and cumulative frequency analysis to produce chronological site profiles (Reece, ibid). I will also employ a range of other statistical methods including cluster analysis and correspondence analysis (Lockyear, 2000) to explore whether any new, more efficient or more reliable approaches to presenting and comparing the data can be introduced. Coin data will not be studied in isolation from other categories of finds as has traditionally occurred. Where possible, Roman finds records from the PASD will be integrated with the site coin profiles I produce. In this regard, collaboration with Tom Brindle, who is conducting a national study of Roman finds on the PASD will be particularly important. In addition, liaison with researchers who are working on profiling sites through particular artefact types will be invaluable. (Plouviez, forthcoming) The result will be a body of synthesized data from sites across England and Wales which will be comparable to, yet more comprehensive than, Richard Reece’s Roman Coins from 140 Sites (Reece, 1991)
2.2 To interpret the data in order to explore a range of research questions**
Using this body of synthesized data, I will be able to undertake comparisons of coins finds from PASD with published data. I will also address a range of research issues, dependant on data quality. These include, but are not are limited to:
| RESEARCH THEMES | APPROACH |
| 1. Rural religious practice | |
| 1.1 Identify new temple and votive sites | Identifying potential matches between published temple coin profiles and those of the PASD. Combine with finds data from PASD to identify sites. (see Walton, forthcoming) |
| 1.2 Better understand existing temple and votive sites | Add coin data from PASD to information from known sites eg Great Walsingham, Norfolk. This will give a better of understanding of their precise nature. |
| 2. Rural coin use and loss | |
| 2.1 Better understand extent and speed of spread of coin in rural sites | |
| 2.2 Examine the extent to which rural coin use is related to the presence of the Roman army | Using case study data, apply mapping techniques to investigate the number of Roman coin found at a range of distances from military installations in the early Roman period. |
| 2.3 Can PASD be used to identify Roman roads and river crossings | Compare geographical and chronological distribution of coin with known mapping of transport network and highlight areas where this mapping might be updated. |
| 2.4 Establish if the PASD provides a more detailed overview of the rural landscape | |
| 2.5 Attempt to address the question of whether Roman coins were used in any numbers before the Roman invasion | |
| 3. Late Roman period | |
| 3.1 Examine whether data supports the theory that coin ceased to be used in the late Roman period in the north and west | |
| 3.2 Investigate if the Valentinianic coin peak was uniform across England and Wales | |
| 3.3 Investigate assemblages from different late Roman military regions to determine potential differential coin supply | |
| 4. Trade and Economy | |
| 4.1 Investigate whether Byzantine coins recorded by the PASD are post medieval souvenirs or evidence of continuing exchange between Britain and the continent after 410AD | Locate relevant findspots and then establish whether coins have plausible findspots or accompanying finds data of very late Roman or early Early Medieval date. |
| 4.2 Investigate hypotheses that there were direct trade links between the eastern Mediterranean and Cornwall and the Irish Sea region | Map coins of different mints and compare their locations to see if clustering occurs. Then cross-reference this to existing published data to look for positive comparisons. |
2.3
To present and publish the information in an accessible format and disseminate the information as widely as possible
The results of this programme of research will have wide appeal to academics, professional archaeologists and members of the public. In addition to publishing findings in the traditional manner, full use of the PAS website will be made. Progress reports with profiles of sites will be posted on the relevant pages as they are compiled. Articles highlighting particular aspects of the research will also be contributed to The Searcher and Treasure Hunting to raise the profile of recording Roman coins and the usefulness of the PASD.
Bibliography
- Lockyear, K. (2000) Site Finds in Roman Britain: A comparison of techniques Oxford Journal of Archaeology 2000, Vol. 19, no. 4, 397-423
- Moorhead, S. (forthcoming) Extending the frontiers: How the PAS Roman Coin Database expands our knowledge of Roman coin use in England in A decade of discovery: A Conference to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, BAR Brit Series
- Plouviez, J. (forthcoming) Counting Roman Brooches in A decade of discovery: A Conference to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, BAR Brit Series
- Reece, R. (1991) Roman Coins from 140 Sites in Britain, Cotswold Studies, Volume IV
- Reece, R. (1995) Site-finds in Roman Britain in Britannia Vol. XXVI, 1991, 180-206
- Walton, P. (forthcoming) Finds from the River Tees at Piercebridge in H. Cool (ed.) Excavations at Piercebridge, County Durham