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+--- Thread: Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? (/showthread.php?tid=3908)
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - sira19730 - 21st April 2011
Hello
We are presently working on a project at a [SIZE=3]museum and we came across these three items with no other information to hand apart from that they are Roman and from Binchester Roman Fort. They is no journals that we have found that tells us what these items might be and I was hoping that someone who is into Roman archaeology might be able to help with what it is? Believe me we have all searched everywhere to try and find the answer out but no one seems to be coming forward. May be someone might know if there is a journal that shows the full excavations reports from way back. All we have found so far is summaries of what the excavations did but no details on the artefacts.[/SIZE]
So I thought I might just hit lucky with a Roman expert or archaeologists who have great knowledge of such pieces.
Thanks for looking and for your help
Simon
http://img823.imageshack.us/i/1005229x.jpg/
http://img545.imageshack.us/i/1005207.jpg/
http://img339.imageshack.us/i/1005227i.jpg/
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - medi-evil - 21st April 2011
There, me and the ArchPoints team have had a go on Facebook. First one, looks like an architectural fragment, possibly from an interior, but I wouldn't bank on it being Roman. Second one, looks like a votive figurine, is it made from the same clay as post-med pipes? This was a common material to make votives from in the region, I think there is an example in Alnwick Castle Museum. Third one, inscription, looks more likely to be an English surname than anything in Latin. The style is very modern, note the pronounced serifs, how square the outline of the letters are and the varying thickness/depth.
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - Madweasels - 22nd April 2011
No.1 - turn it upside down - it is a griffin. Compare with slide number 8 here http://educators.mfa.org/galleries/slideshow/1122 (Greek Archaic period)
No.2 - I have seen this before - but can't remember where. Some sort of RB colour-coat comes to mind. I will have a think.
No.3 - yes, looks post-medieval.
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - Dinosaur - 22nd April 2011
There is currently ongoing (annual) excavation work going on at Binchester - contact David Mason, the Co Durham county archaeologist, he'll know about previous work there, mostly antiquarian I'm afraid. Sorry, don't have the contact details to hand but check out their website. Afraid I've only played in the carpark there (mostly disarticulated post-Roman human remains) so not that up on the details I'm afraid.
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - BAJR - 22nd April 2011
From Dr Iain FErris
Quote:Dear David,
I wonder if the following might help Sira19730 who has posted a query re. Binchester on the BAJR Forum. In October 2010 the final academic report on the 1976-1981 and 1986-1991 excavations at Binchester was published, details below, these volumes including discussion of earlier work at the site, detailed finds analysis, and an extensive bibliography. Coming out in June this year is a more 'popular' book on Binchester (see below), again with discussion of work on the site before 1976. Can I ask Sira19730 where the finds pictured are held and what is the information linking them to Binchester? Thanks.
Iain
Dr Iain Ferris
I.M. Ferris 2010 The Beautiful Rooms Are Empty. Excavations at Binchester Roman Fort, County Durham 1976-1981 and 1986-1991. Parts 1 and 2. Durham County Council Archaeological Monograph.
I.M. Ferris Forthcoming Vinovia. The Buried Roman City of Binchester in Northern England. Amberley Publishing.
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - Dinosaur - 22nd April 2011
I stand corrected!....another monograph to buy, only just shelled-out for the Piercebridge one
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - BAJR - 22nd April 2011
I could see if you could get a discount, on account of you being Northern
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - gwyl - 22nd April 2011
Have you checked these bits and bobs with Dave Petts (http://outlandish-knight.blogspot.com/) who has been digging at Binchester with Durham University; he knows his onions.
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - deadlylampshade - 24th April 2011
As Madweasels says, here's the first one right way up![ATTACH=CONFIG]887[/ATTACH]
It doesn't show any weathering so infers it is an interior piece if it is architectural. Could be from a large urn or pot as the bottom edge is not as clean as the top?
For some reason the second picture suggests Minerva to me or the equivalent Romano British goddess...It looks as if it has been part of the decoration of something else. Still hunting for it...
Picture three, certainly post Med I would say from the shape of the lettering.
Roman expert or archaeologist can you please help? - kevin wooldridge - 24th April 2011
When I first saw photo 2, I thought oil lamp....I have found a reference to something similar from a French excavation...http://heritage-key.com/blogs/ann/angers-mithraeum-sanctuary-dedicated-persian-god-mithras-discovered-france
I also thought large earthenware jar or even flower-pot for picture 1. Can we be sure this is not something 18th or19th century, neo-classical garden furniture?. Might explain away the fragment in photo 3 as well....