This article describes the research questions and presents the initialamsdates of the Middle Draa... more This article describes the research questions and presents the initialamsdates of the Middle Draa Project (southern Morocco), a collaborative field survey project between the University of Leicester and the Institut National des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine (insap) of Morocco. Starting from a very low baseline of past archaeological research in this pre-desert valley, the overall objective of the project is to establish the extent, character and chronology of the rich archaeology of the Wadi Draa. The results presented here detail a hitherto unknown phase of major occupation in the Draa in the 4th-6th centuriesadevidenced by complex hilltop settlements and extensive cairn cemeteries (an initial typology is presented). A second medieval phase comprised major urban centres that are contemporary with the Almoravid and Almohad periods of Moroccan history. Alongside these urban centres, there are the remains of substantial mudbrick oasis settlements and irrigation and field...
The fourth season of the Burials and Identity component of the Desert Migrations Project in 2010 ... more The fourth season of the Burials and Identity component of the Desert Migrations Project in 2010 focused on completion of excavation work at two main cemeteries (TAG001 and TAG012) and smaller-scale sampling work at a number of nearby cemeteries. The investigation of a number of burials in a semi-nucleated escarpment cemetery TAG063 produced interesting new information on Proto-Urban Garamantian funerary rites, dating to the latter centuries BC. The excavations at TAG001 were extended to two areas of the cemetery characterised by different burial types to the stepped tombs that were excavated in 2009. A second type of fairly monumental burial was identified, but these had been heavily robbed and it was not possible to demonstrate conclusively that these pre-dated the stepped tombs. Most of the other burials excavated were simple shaft burials and were relatively sparsely furnished with imported goods, in comparison with the larger tombs, though quite a lot of organic material was id...
Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project (DMP) foc... more Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project (DMP) focused in 2011 on the so-called Royal Cemetery of the Garamantes close to the Jarma escarpment, a few km south of Old Jarma. This Late Garamantian cemetery contains two distinct zones (GSC030 and GSC031) of monumental rectangular stepped tombs, which were plaster-coated and fronted by massive offering tables and stelae. Previous dating evidence has suggested they span the fourth to sixth centuries AD. However, many questions remain about the cemetery and the overall recording of the monuments had hitherto been left incomplete. The 2011 work focused on the excavation of one of the larger monuments in GSC030 and several of the smaller tombs in the neighbouring GSC031, along with an overall survey of both cemetery areas and a detailed record of the stelae and offering tables still present in considerable numbers. In addition, the team made a survey along the escarpment between the Royal Cemet...
Rome’s imperial economy is a collection of 12 papers by W. V. Harris covering a variety of themes... more Rome’s imperial economy is a collection of 12 papers by W. V. Harris covering a variety of themes on the subject of Roman economic activity. The aim is to provide a volume that will “grasp the shape of the economy of the Roman Empire” and consider how it evolved (2). For this ambitious task, after an introduction the book is divided into 6 thematic sections: structures (chapts. 1-2), slavery (3-4), production (5-6), trade (7-9), money (10), and overviews (11-12). Eleven of the contributions were previously published between 1980 and 2007, and they appear here in their original versions with only “light editing” (1); when alterations do appear, they are largely in the form of additional comments and citations in the footnotes.1 At the ends of chapters, Harris provides brief but valuable addenda (from a few lines to a couple of pages) to frame the work within more recent scholarship or to provide “a few essential items of more recent bibliography” (1). Although there is only one new contribution (chapt. 2: “Poverty and destitution in the Roman Empire”), the book is more than just an overview of Harris’s work through demonstrating the continued importance of his scholarship on the subject.
This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Dr... more This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Draa Project (southern Morocco), a collaborative field survey project between the University of Leicester and the Institut National des Sciences de l' Archéologie et du Patrimoine (INSAP) of Morocco. Starting from a very low baseline of past archaeological research in this pre-desert valley, the overall objective of the project is to establish the extent, character and chronology of the rich archaeology of the Wadi Draa. The results presented here detail a hitherto unknown phase of major occupation in the Draa in the 4th-6th centuries AD evidenced by complex hilltop settlements and extensive cairn cemeteries (an initial typology is presented). A second medieval phase comprised major urban centres that are contemporary with the Almoravid and Almohad periods of Moroccan history. Alongside these urban centres, there are the remains of substantial mudbrick oasis settlements and irrigation and field-systems of a contemporary date. A key contribution of this paper concerns the construction of an outline chronology based upon initial analysis of the ceramics collected , but crucially supplemented and supported by a major program of AMS dating. The remote sensing and field survey data collected by the project enable us to develop some hypotheses concerning the long-term history of this important oasis valley. Keywords Protohistory – Islamic archaeology – landscape archaeology – radiocarbon dating – irrigation
ABSTRACT Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project ... more ABSTRACT Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project (DMP) focused in 2011 on the so-called Royal Cemetery of the Garamantes close to the Jarma escarpment, a few km south of Old Jarma. This Late Garamantian cemetery contains two distinct zones (GSC030 and GSC031) of monumental rectangular stepped tombs, which were plaster-coated and fronted by massive offering tables and stelae. Previous dating evidence has suggested they span the fourth to sixth centuries AD. However, many questions remain about the cemetery and the overall recording of the monuments had hitherto been left incomplete. The 2011 work focused on the excavation of one of the larger monuments in GSC030 and several of the smaller tombs in the neighbouring GSC031, along with an overall survey of both cemetery areas and a detailed record of the stelae and offering tables still present in considerable numbers. In addition, the team made a survey along the escarpment between the Royal Cemetery and Zinkekra, completing and uniting the various surveys carried out by the DMP around Zinkekra, Watwat and the Jarma Escarpment. A survey of foggaras and settlement in the ad-Dısa embayment was also undertaken.
The term ‘consumption’ has modernist connotations and is often perceived as anachronistic. Howev... more The term ‘consumption’ has modernist connotations and is often perceived as anachronistic. However, consumption occurs in various forms with many socio-cultural contributing factors, and is not a concept limited to advanced capitalistic societies. It has received a tentative introduction to Roman archaeology, although application of the concept becomes more plausible if the term ‘consumer’ is stripped down to its foundational meaning of someone who consumes a certain thing, regardless of how or why. Consequently, it offers an alternative perspective from which to investigate the ancient economy, compared to the much-used approach of production.
As a result, specific questions can be targeted; such as, do patterns of consumption exist at all in a distinguishable way that can be observed across or within populations? Additionally, questions pertaining to broader issues can be addressed, such as those relating to market economies in the ancient world. It has been argued that work on 18th-century probate inventories could provide a model for investigations of material culture in Britain. Not only does this research argue that this is possible but, moreover, sites such as Pompeii provide a wealth of information that can assist in the investigation of consumption in the 1st century AD. Through the examination of records of material culture from households in Pompeii, patterns of consumer behaviour are to be investigated, with scope for subsequent inter-site comparisons.
Within ancient urban surroundings, the study of space is a significant aspect in understanding so... more Within ancient urban surroundings, the study of space is a significant aspect in understanding social interactions and experiences of a site or locale. Examining the use and nature of urban space can, however, be a troublesome process, as space itself is an intangible socio-cultural construct. This paper draws on the perspective that interpretation of such space can be productive when considered in terms of its physical container or boundaries; architecture therefore acts as proxy in accessing potential use and meaning of space.
In an ancient urban context such as Pompeii space was a limited commodity, raising many questions relating to its production, use, accessibility, and availability to multiple sectors of the population – not just the ‘elite’. The Grand Palaestra in Pompeii represents a building with a large internal open area that provides an alternative dimension to the study of the experience of space: beyond structural analysis the human element is available through the study of the prevalence of graffiti and its distribution, which puts the cultural context of ‘place’ into the concept of function of space. Previous assumptions of the use of the building (and therefore the space) can thus be re-assessed. Furthermore, the discussion can be expanded to consider the ‘piazza’ in which the Grand Palaestra is located, consequently posing questions regarding the spatial expanse that contains the ‘container’. By investigating such multi-layered components, and thereby going beyond solely considering the arrangement of architecture, it is possible to start to populate the space and retrieve the human experience.
Investigating identity through specific artefact types presents only a partial reflection of past... more Investigating identity through specific artefact types presents only a partial reflection of past behavioural actions. The application of the theoretical construct of ‘consumption’ is a valuable lens through which the ancient world can be viewed to extract information about the construction and representation of social identity. By examining material culture at the household level, urban domestic identities can be modelled and concepts such as consumer motivations can be addressed.
The application of statistical analysis to Pompeian household data through the constructs of ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting in which to set social identity. The examination of archaeological assemblages in this framework enables access to concepts such as consumer perceptions and symbolic aspects of consumption. Furthermore, the resultant identification of consumption orientations has enabled the formulation of a spectrum of materialism that incorporates factors such as identity and utility.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
The application of the theoretical construct of ‘consumption’ is a valuable lens through which or... more The application of the theoretical construct of ‘consumption’ is a valuable lens through which orientations towards material culture in the ancient world can be examined. This approach enables nuanced interpretation of socio-economic behaviour represented by human agencies, such as identity construction and consumer selection.
The theoretical framework for this study will be introduced, and its application to household artefactual data from Pompeii, Italy, will subsequently be demonstrated. Employing statistical analysis via constructs such as ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting for urban domestic behaviour in the first century CE. Therefore behaviour and agency can be modelled to address concepts such as social identity, consumer perception and motivation.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
This article describes the research questions and presents the initialamsdates of the Middle Draa... more This article describes the research questions and presents the initialamsdates of the Middle Draa Project (southern Morocco), a collaborative field survey project between the University of Leicester and the Institut National des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine (insap) of Morocco. Starting from a very low baseline of past archaeological research in this pre-desert valley, the overall objective of the project is to establish the extent, character and chronology of the rich archaeology of the Wadi Draa. The results presented here detail a hitherto unknown phase of major occupation in the Draa in the 4th-6th centuriesadevidenced by complex hilltop settlements and extensive cairn cemeteries (an initial typology is presented). A second medieval phase comprised major urban centres that are contemporary with the Almoravid and Almohad periods of Moroccan history. Alongside these urban centres, there are the remains of substantial mudbrick oasis settlements and irrigation and field...
The fourth season of the Burials and Identity component of the Desert Migrations Project in 2010 ... more The fourth season of the Burials and Identity component of the Desert Migrations Project in 2010 focused on completion of excavation work at two main cemeteries (TAG001 and TAG012) and smaller-scale sampling work at a number of nearby cemeteries. The investigation of a number of burials in a semi-nucleated escarpment cemetery TAG063 produced interesting new information on Proto-Urban Garamantian funerary rites, dating to the latter centuries BC. The excavations at TAG001 were extended to two areas of the cemetery characterised by different burial types to the stepped tombs that were excavated in 2009. A second type of fairly monumental burial was identified, but these had been heavily robbed and it was not possible to demonstrate conclusively that these pre-dated the stepped tombs. Most of the other burials excavated were simple shaft burials and were relatively sparsely furnished with imported goods, in comparison with the larger tombs, though quite a lot of organic material was id...
Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project (DMP) foc... more Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project (DMP) focused in 2011 on the so-called Royal Cemetery of the Garamantes close to the Jarma escarpment, a few km south of Old Jarma. This Late Garamantian cemetery contains two distinct zones (GSC030 and GSC031) of monumental rectangular stepped tombs, which were plaster-coated and fronted by massive offering tables and stelae. Previous dating evidence has suggested they span the fourth to sixth centuries AD. However, many questions remain about the cemetery and the overall recording of the monuments had hitherto been left incomplete. The 2011 work focused on the excavation of one of the larger monuments in GSC030 and several of the smaller tombs in the neighbouring GSC031, along with an overall survey of both cemetery areas and a detailed record of the stelae and offering tables still present in considerable numbers. In addition, the team made a survey along the escarpment between the Royal Cemet...
Rome’s imperial economy is a collection of 12 papers by W. V. Harris covering a variety of themes... more Rome’s imperial economy is a collection of 12 papers by W. V. Harris covering a variety of themes on the subject of Roman economic activity. The aim is to provide a volume that will “grasp the shape of the economy of the Roman Empire” and consider how it evolved (2). For this ambitious task, after an introduction the book is divided into 6 thematic sections: structures (chapts. 1-2), slavery (3-4), production (5-6), trade (7-9), money (10), and overviews (11-12). Eleven of the contributions were previously published between 1980 and 2007, and they appear here in their original versions with only “light editing” (1); when alterations do appear, they are largely in the form of additional comments and citations in the footnotes.1 At the ends of chapters, Harris provides brief but valuable addenda (from a few lines to a couple of pages) to frame the work within more recent scholarship or to provide “a few essential items of more recent bibliography” (1). Although there is only one new contribution (chapt. 2: “Poverty and destitution in the Roman Empire”), the book is more than just an overview of Harris’s work through demonstrating the continued importance of his scholarship on the subject.
This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Dr... more This article describes the research questions and presents the initial AMS dates of the Middle Draa Project (southern Morocco), a collaborative field survey project between the University of Leicester and the Institut National des Sciences de l' Archéologie et du Patrimoine (INSAP) of Morocco. Starting from a very low baseline of past archaeological research in this pre-desert valley, the overall objective of the project is to establish the extent, character and chronology of the rich archaeology of the Wadi Draa. The results presented here detail a hitherto unknown phase of major occupation in the Draa in the 4th-6th centuries AD evidenced by complex hilltop settlements and extensive cairn cemeteries (an initial typology is presented). A second medieval phase comprised major urban centres that are contemporary with the Almoravid and Almohad periods of Moroccan history. Alongside these urban centres, there are the remains of substantial mudbrick oasis settlements and irrigation and field-systems of a contemporary date. A key contribution of this paper concerns the construction of an outline chronology based upon initial analysis of the ceramics collected , but crucially supplemented and supported by a major program of AMS dating. The remote sensing and field survey data collected by the project enable us to develop some hypotheses concerning the long-term history of this important oasis valley. Keywords Protohistory – Islamic archaeology – landscape archaeology – radiocarbon dating – irrigation
ABSTRACT Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project ... more ABSTRACT Survey and excavation by the Burials and Identity team of the Desert Migrations Project (DMP) focused in 2011 on the so-called Royal Cemetery of the Garamantes close to the Jarma escarpment, a few km south of Old Jarma. This Late Garamantian cemetery contains two distinct zones (GSC030 and GSC031) of monumental rectangular stepped tombs, which were plaster-coated and fronted by massive offering tables and stelae. Previous dating evidence has suggested they span the fourth to sixth centuries AD. However, many questions remain about the cemetery and the overall recording of the monuments had hitherto been left incomplete. The 2011 work focused on the excavation of one of the larger monuments in GSC030 and several of the smaller tombs in the neighbouring GSC031, along with an overall survey of both cemetery areas and a detailed record of the stelae and offering tables still present in considerable numbers. In addition, the team made a survey along the escarpment between the Royal Cemetery and Zinkekra, completing and uniting the various surveys carried out by the DMP around Zinkekra, Watwat and the Jarma Escarpment. A survey of foggaras and settlement in the ad-Dısa embayment was also undertaken.
The term ‘consumption’ has modernist connotations and is often perceived as anachronistic. Howev... more The term ‘consumption’ has modernist connotations and is often perceived as anachronistic. However, consumption occurs in various forms with many socio-cultural contributing factors, and is not a concept limited to advanced capitalistic societies. It has received a tentative introduction to Roman archaeology, although application of the concept becomes more plausible if the term ‘consumer’ is stripped down to its foundational meaning of someone who consumes a certain thing, regardless of how or why. Consequently, it offers an alternative perspective from which to investigate the ancient economy, compared to the much-used approach of production.
As a result, specific questions can be targeted; such as, do patterns of consumption exist at all in a distinguishable way that can be observed across or within populations? Additionally, questions pertaining to broader issues can be addressed, such as those relating to market economies in the ancient world. It has been argued that work on 18th-century probate inventories could provide a model for investigations of material culture in Britain. Not only does this research argue that this is possible but, moreover, sites such as Pompeii provide a wealth of information that can assist in the investigation of consumption in the 1st century AD. Through the examination of records of material culture from households in Pompeii, patterns of consumer behaviour are to be investigated, with scope for subsequent inter-site comparisons.
Within ancient urban surroundings, the study of space is a significant aspect in understanding so... more Within ancient urban surroundings, the study of space is a significant aspect in understanding social interactions and experiences of a site or locale. Examining the use and nature of urban space can, however, be a troublesome process, as space itself is an intangible socio-cultural construct. This paper draws on the perspective that interpretation of such space can be productive when considered in terms of its physical container or boundaries; architecture therefore acts as proxy in accessing potential use and meaning of space.
In an ancient urban context such as Pompeii space was a limited commodity, raising many questions relating to its production, use, accessibility, and availability to multiple sectors of the population – not just the ‘elite’. The Grand Palaestra in Pompeii represents a building with a large internal open area that provides an alternative dimension to the study of the experience of space: beyond structural analysis the human element is available through the study of the prevalence of graffiti and its distribution, which puts the cultural context of ‘place’ into the concept of function of space. Previous assumptions of the use of the building (and therefore the space) can thus be re-assessed. Furthermore, the discussion can be expanded to consider the ‘piazza’ in which the Grand Palaestra is located, consequently posing questions regarding the spatial expanse that contains the ‘container’. By investigating such multi-layered components, and thereby going beyond solely considering the arrangement of architecture, it is possible to start to populate the space and retrieve the human experience.
Investigating identity through specific artefact types presents only a partial reflection of past... more Investigating identity through specific artefact types presents only a partial reflection of past behavioural actions. The application of the theoretical construct of ‘consumption’ is a valuable lens through which the ancient world can be viewed to extract information about the construction and representation of social identity. By examining material culture at the household level, urban domestic identities can be modelled and concepts such as consumer motivations can be addressed.
The application of statistical analysis to Pompeian household data through the constructs of ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting in which to set social identity. The examination of archaeological assemblages in this framework enables access to concepts such as consumer perceptions and symbolic aspects of consumption. Furthermore, the resultant identification of consumption orientations has enabled the formulation of a spectrum of materialism that incorporates factors such as identity and utility.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
The application of the theoretical construct of ‘consumption’ is a valuable lens through which or... more The application of the theoretical construct of ‘consumption’ is a valuable lens through which orientations towards material culture in the ancient world can be examined. This approach enables nuanced interpretation of socio-economic behaviour represented by human agencies, such as identity construction and consumer selection.
The theoretical framework for this study will be introduced, and its application to household artefactual data from Pompeii, Italy, will subsequently be demonstrated. Employing statistical analysis via constructs such as ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting for urban domestic behaviour in the first century CE. Therefore behaviour and agency can be modelled to address concepts such as social identity, consumer perception and motivation.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
Examining the use and experience of urban space can be a troublesome process, as space itself is ... more Examining the use and experience of urban space can be a troublesome process, as space itself is an intangible socio-cultural construct. This paper follows the perspective that interpretation of such space is most productive when considered in terms of its physical container; architecture therefore acts as proxy in accessing potential functionality of space.
In an ancient urban context such as Pompeii, space was a limited commodity and is usually studied in terms of elite private space. The availability of space to the wider population, however, is less considered and more problematic. The Grand Palaestra in Pompeii is a large open area that provides an alternative dimension to the study of the experience of space: beyond structural analysis the human element is available through the study of the prevalence of graffiti and its distribution, which puts the cultural context of ‘place’ into the concept of function of space. Previous assumptions of the use of the building (and therefore the space) can thus be re-assessed.
By investigating such multi-layered components, and thereby going beyond solely considering the arrangement of architecture, it is possible for ‘nothingness’ to be given definition and the human experience to be retrieved.
Temples served as treasuries and banks, and priesthoods came with political power. The expansion ... more Temples served as treasuries and banks, and priesthoods came with political power. The expansion of Roman religion transformed economies throughout the Empire, affecting established institutions and creating new centres of sacred consumption and production. Roman religion mobilised vast quantities of wealth and resources, but tensions between traditional piety and financial expenditure remained. This dynamic interplay between religion and the economy created a complex system that has hitherto received little attention. This conference brings together an international body of scholars to discuss the economic role of religion in the Roman world. A variety of historical and archaeological approaches will explore the subject throughout the Republican and Imperial periods. Through examination of the economic function of religious institutions, the role of priests and patrons, and the provincial impact of Roman religion, this meeting aims to understand better the nature and extent of religion's influence on the wider economy and how it changed with the growth of the Empire.
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Papers by Nick M Ray
As a result, specific questions can be targeted; such as, do patterns of consumption exist at all in a distinguishable way that can be observed across or within populations? Additionally, questions pertaining to broader issues can be addressed, such as those relating to market economies in the ancient world. It has been argued that work on 18th-century probate inventories could provide a model for investigations of material culture in Britain. Not only does this research argue that this is possible but, moreover, sites such as Pompeii provide a wealth of information that can assist in the investigation of consumption in the 1st century AD. Through the examination of records of material culture from households in Pompeii, patterns of consumer behaviour are to be investigated, with scope for subsequent inter-site comparisons.
In an ancient urban context such as Pompeii space was a limited commodity, raising many questions relating to its production, use, accessibility, and availability to multiple sectors of the population – not just the ‘elite’. The Grand Palaestra in Pompeii represents a building with a large internal open area that provides an alternative dimension to the study of the experience of space: beyond structural analysis the human element is available through the study of the prevalence of graffiti and its distribution, which puts the cultural context of ‘place’ into the concept of function of space. Previous assumptions of the use of the building (and therefore the space) can thus be re-assessed. Furthermore, the discussion can be expanded to consider the ‘piazza’ in which the Grand Palaestra is located, consequently posing questions regarding the spatial expanse that contains the ‘container’. By investigating such multi-layered components, and thereby going beyond solely considering the arrangement of architecture, it is possible to start to populate the space and retrieve the human experience.
Talks by Nick M Ray
The application of statistical analysis to Pompeian household data through the constructs of ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting in which to set social identity. The examination of archaeological assemblages in this framework enables access to concepts such as consumer perceptions and symbolic aspects of consumption. Furthermore, the resultant identification of consumption orientations has enabled the formulation of a spectrum of materialism that incorporates factors such as identity and utility.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
The theoretical framework for this study will be introduced, and its application to household artefactual data from Pompeii, Italy, will subsequently be demonstrated. Employing statistical analysis via constructs such as ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting for urban domestic behaviour in the first century CE. Therefore behaviour and agency can be modelled to address concepts such as social identity, consumer perception and motivation.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
As a result, specific questions can be targeted; such as, do patterns of consumption exist at all in a distinguishable way that can be observed across or within populations? Additionally, questions pertaining to broader issues can be addressed, such as those relating to market economies in the ancient world. It has been argued that work on 18th-century probate inventories could provide a model for investigations of material culture in Britain. Not only does this research argue that this is possible but, moreover, sites such as Pompeii provide a wealth of information that can assist in the investigation of consumption in the 1st century AD. Through the examination of records of material culture from households in Pompeii, patterns of consumer behaviour are to be investigated, with scope for subsequent inter-site comparisons.
In an ancient urban context such as Pompeii space was a limited commodity, raising many questions relating to its production, use, accessibility, and availability to multiple sectors of the population – not just the ‘elite’. The Grand Palaestra in Pompeii represents a building with a large internal open area that provides an alternative dimension to the study of the experience of space: beyond structural analysis the human element is available through the study of the prevalence of graffiti and its distribution, which puts the cultural context of ‘place’ into the concept of function of space. Previous assumptions of the use of the building (and therefore the space) can thus be re-assessed. Furthermore, the discussion can be expanded to consider the ‘piazza’ in which the Grand Palaestra is located, consequently posing questions regarding the spatial expanse that contains the ‘container’. By investigating such multi-layered components, and thereby going beyond solely considering the arrangement of architecture, it is possible to start to populate the space and retrieve the human experience.
The application of statistical analysis to Pompeian household data through the constructs of ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting in which to set social identity. The examination of archaeological assemblages in this framework enables access to concepts such as consumer perceptions and symbolic aspects of consumption. Furthermore, the resultant identification of consumption orientations has enabled the formulation of a spectrum of materialism that incorporates factors such as identity and utility.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
The theoretical framework for this study will be introduced, and its application to household artefactual data from Pompeii, Italy, will subsequently be demonstrated. Employing statistical analysis via constructs such as ‘materialism’ and ‘discretionary spending’ provides a contextual setting for urban domestic behaviour in the first century CE. Therefore behaviour and agency can be modelled to address concepts such as social identity, consumer perception and motivation.
This research provides an innovative method to investigate the relationships between consumer durables, perceptions and behaviour in the ancient world. The potential for the application of the constructs addressed is not limited to site-specific contexts or periods, and addresses problematic issues such as consumer involvements with acquired goods.
In an ancient urban context such as Pompeii, space was a limited commodity and is usually studied in terms of elite private space. The availability of space to the wider population, however, is less considered and more problematic. The Grand Palaestra in Pompeii is a large open area that provides an alternative dimension to the study of the experience of space: beyond structural analysis the human element is available through the study of the prevalence of graffiti and its distribution, which puts the cultural context of ‘place’ into the concept of function of space. Previous assumptions of the use of the building (and therefore the space) can thus be re-assessed.
By investigating such multi-layered components, and thereby going beyond solely considering the arrangement of architecture, it is possible for ‘nothingness’ to be given definition and the human experience to be retrieved.
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