South Shields 1875: an early excavation in context

Stewart, Martha

Abstract

Robert Blair (1845–1923) served as Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, and editor of this journal, for forty years until his death. But his association with the Society had in fact begun a decade earlier, when he became involved in plans to explore the remains of the Roman fort at South Shields in 1874. This paper is inspired by a scrapbook he later compiled relating to the venture, which offers detailed insight into the practical and financial organisation of the excavation, the role of SANT, which has previously been underplayed, and the long-running debate over the preservation of the site. In terms of the development of British archaeology, it illuminates what is clearly a significant episode in the twilight between the domination of the interests of landowners and amateur antiquarians, and the institutional sponsorship of excavations from the 1890s onwards.

Citation

Stewart, M. (2018). South Shields 1875: an early excavation in context. Archaeologia Aeliana, 46, 181-220

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 1, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 13, 2018
• Journal: Archaeologia Aeliana, or, Miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity.
• Print ISSN: 0261-3417
• Publisher: Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Pages: 181-220
• Publisher URL: http://www.newcastle-antiquaries.org.uk/index.php?pageId=759