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Outputs (26)

Failure on the frontier: a response to Price & Jaffe (2023)
Journal Article
Kitching, P., & Witcher, R. (2023). Failure on the frontier: a response to Price & Jaffe. Antiquity, 97(396), 1613-1616. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2023.161

Price and Jaffe (2023) argue that acknowledging failure humanises the past. It can also serve as a lens through which to reflect on archaeological reasoning. Here, we turn to the Roman world, and the frontier of northern Britain in particular, to co... Read More about Failure on the frontier: a response to Price & Jaffe.

Women in Antiquity: an analysis of gender and publishing in a global archaeology journal (2022)
Journal Article
Hanscam, E., & Witcher, R. (2023). Women in Antiquity: an analysis of gender and publishing in a global archaeology journal. Journal of Field Archaeology, 48(2), 87-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2022.2143896

Studies of archaeology publishing demonstrate a persistent imbalance in the ratio of male and female authors. We present an analysis of the world archaeology journal Antiquity using submissions and editorial decisions data (2015–2020). We identify a... Read More about Women in Antiquity: an analysis of gender and publishing in a global archaeology journal.

The Roman Hinterland Project: integrating archaeological field surveys around Rome and beyond (2021)
Journal Article
Attema, P., Carafa, P., Jongman, W., Smith, C., Bronkhorst, A., Capanna, M., …Wouda, N. (2022). The Roman Hinterland Project: integrating archaeological field surveys around Rome and beyond. European Journal of Archaeology, 25(2), 238-258. https://doi.org/10.1017/eaa.2021.51

This article presents the background to and prospects for a new initiative in archaeological field survey and database integration. The Roman Hinterland Project combines data from the Tiber Valley Project, Roman Suburbium Project, and the Pontine Reg... Read More about The Roman Hinterland Project: integrating archaeological field surveys around Rome and beyond.

Patterns of Etruscan urbanism (2020)
Journal Article
Stoddart, S., Palmisano, A., Redhouse, D., Barker, G., Di Paola, G., Motta, L., …Witcher, R. (2020). Patterns of Etruscan urbanism. Frontiers in digital humanities, 7, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdigh.2020.00001

This paper examines the patterns of Etruscan urbanism by the innovative use of newly available rural data, employing rank size, and indices of centralization. The detailed case study looks at the development of urbanism of pre-Roman Etruria where bot... Read More about Patterns of Etruscan urbanism.

Death on the frontier: military cremation practices in the north of Roman Britain (2016)
Journal Article
Thompson, T., Szigeti, J., Gowland, R., & Witcher, R. (2016). Death on the frontier: military cremation practices in the north of Roman Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 10, 828-836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.05.020

The study of cremated human remains from archaeological contexts has traditionally been viewed as less valuable than the study of inhumed bodies. However, recent methodological and theoretical developments regarding the taphonomic processes that tran... Read More about Death on the frontier: military cremation practices in the north of Roman Britain.

Urbanism in Ancient Peninsular Italy: developing a methodology for a database analysis of higher order settlements (350 BCE to 300 CE) (2015)
Journal Article
Sewell, J., & Witcher, R. (2015). Urbanism in Ancient Peninsular Italy: developing a methodology for a database analysis of higher order settlements (350 BCE to 300 CE). Internet Archaeology, 40, https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.40.2

This article describes the methodology of a two-year research project to create an analytical database and GIS of 583 (proto-)urban centres on the Italian peninsula that existed between 350 BCE and 300 CE. The article is linked to the project's data... Read More about Urbanism in Ancient Peninsular Italy: developing a methodology for a database analysis of higher order settlements (350 BCE to 300 CE).

On Rome’s Ecological Contribution to British Flora and Fauna: landscape, legacy and identity (2013)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2013). On Rome’s Ecological Contribution to British Flora and Fauna: landscape, legacy and identity. Landscape History, 34(2), 5-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/01433768.2013.855393

This paper addresses the flora and fauna of Roman Britain via two long-lived and closely-related notions: the ‘Roman introduction’ and the ‘living legacy’. These concepts connect knowledge and beliefs about the introduction of new species during the... Read More about On Rome’s Ecological Contribution to British Flora and Fauna: landscape, legacy and identity.

Life of an Ancient Monument: Hadrian's Wall in History (2012)
Journal Article
Hingley, R., Witcher, R., & Nesbitt, C. (2012). Life of an Ancient Monument: Hadrian's Wall in History. Antiquity, 86(333), 760-771. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003598x00047906

The Romans are Britain's favourite invaders, and Hadrian's Wall is among the largest and finest of the relics they left behind on the island. However, as our authors urge, we should demand more intellectual depth from our monuments today. Not simply... Read More about Life of an Ancient Monument: Hadrian's Wall in History.

Double Dutch: two perspectives on the landscapes of first millennium BC Italy (2011)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2011). Double Dutch: two perspectives on the landscapes of first millennium BC Italy. Antiquity, 1476-1478. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003598x00062220

TESSE D. STEK. Cult places and cultural change in Republican Italy: a contextual approach to religious aspects of rural society after the Roman conquest (Amsterdam Archaeological Studies 14). xii+263 pages, numerous illustrations. 2009. Amsterdam: Am... Read More about Double Dutch: two perspectives on the landscapes of first millennium BC Italy.

The Fabulous Tales of the Common People, Part 2: Encountering Hadrian’s Wall (2010)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2010). The Fabulous Tales of the Common People, Part 2: Encountering Hadrian’s Wall. Public Archaeology, 9(4), 211-238. https://doi.org/10.1179/175355310x12880170217652

In 2003, the Hadrian's Wall National Trail was opened, providing a 135 km (84 mile) public footpath along the length of the Roman frontier from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway. Each year, thousands of visitors walk the Trail from end-to-end and many mo... Read More about The Fabulous Tales of the Common People, Part 2: Encountering Hadrian’s Wall.

The Fabulous Tales of the Common People, Part 1: Representing Hadrian’s Wall (2010)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2010). The Fabulous Tales of the Common People, Part 1: Representing Hadrian’s Wall. Public Archaeology, 9(3), 126-152. https://doi.org/10.1179/146551810x12822101587138

Hadrian’s Wall is one of the most instantly recognizable ancient monuments in the UK. This paper explores the historical and contemporary visualization practices which have created this iconic image. Moving between the disciplines of archaeology, cul... Read More about The Fabulous Tales of the Common People, Part 1: Representing Hadrian’s Wall.

Archaeologies of Landscape. Excavating the Materialities of Hadrian's Wall (2010)
Journal Article
Witcher, R., Tolia-Kelly, D., & Hingley, R. (2010). Archaeologies of Landscape. Excavating the Materialities of Hadrian's Wall. Journal of Material Culture, 15(1), 105-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359183510355228

This article interrogates the materiality of Hadrian’s Wall beyond its widespread perception as a monument of/to Ancient Rome. Encounters with this monument have generated multitudinous materialities: hegemonic, conflicting and ambiguous. These traje... Read More about Archaeologies of Landscape. Excavating the Materialities of Hadrian's Wall.

Predictive Modelling of Roman Settlement in the Middle Tiber Valley (2010)
Journal Article
Kay, S., & Witcher, R. (2010). Predictive Modelling of Roman Settlement in the Middle Tiber Valley. Archeologia e calcolatori (Testo stampato), 20(2009), 277-290

This paper discusses the results of an inductive predictive modelling experiment on Roman settlement data from the middle Tiber valley, Italy. The study forms part of the British School at Rome’s Tiber Valley Project, which since its inception in 199... Read More about Predictive Modelling of Roman Settlement in the Middle Tiber Valley.

The Villa of the Gordiani at the 3rd Mile of the Via Prenestina, Rome. Reassessment of a Roman and Medieval Site in the Suburbs of Rome (2009)
Journal Article
Leone, A., Palombi, D., Maiuro, M., Witcher, R., Howard, P., & Vallelonga, F. (2009). The Villa of the Gordiani at the 3rd Mile of the Via Prenestina, Rome. Reassessment of a Roman and Medieval Site in the Suburbs of Rome

This article presents the principal aims and the preliminary results of the Villa dei Gordiani project conducted during summer 2006. The research is jointly run by the University of Durham, Department of Archaeology and the University “La Sapienza” d... Read More about The Villa of the Gordiani at the 3rd Mile of the Via Prenestina, Rome. Reassessment of a Roman and Medieval Site in the Suburbs of Rome.

(Re)surveying Mediterranean Rural Landscapes: GIS and Legacy Survey Data (2008)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2008). (Re)surveying Mediterranean Rural Landscapes: GIS and Legacy Survey Data. Internet Archaeology, 24,

Legacy data have always been important for Mediterranean archaeologists. Over the past decade, one specific category of legacy data, that deriving from regional survey, has become particularly important. Not only has the scale of research questions b... Read More about (Re)surveying Mediterranean Rural Landscapes: GIS and Legacy Survey Data.

Broken Pots and Meaningless Dots? Surveying the Rural Landscapes of Roman Italy (2006)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2006). Broken Pots and Meaningless Dots? Surveying the Rural Landscapes of Roman Italy. Papers of the British School at Rome, 74, 39-72. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0068246200003226

In this paper, I question why the rapid methodological development of field survey as a technique for the study of rural Roman Italy has not been accompanied by parallel developments in theoretical and interpretative frameworks. Field survey remains... Read More about Broken Pots and Meaningless Dots? Surveying the Rural Landscapes of Roman Italy.

Settlement and Society in Early Imperial Etruria (2006)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2006). Settlement and Society in Early Imperial Etruria. The Journal of Roman Studies, 96, 88-123. https://doi.org/10.3815/000000006784016161

This paper compares the early imperial period results from thirty surveys in and around regio VII Etruria in order to identify similarities and differences of settlement, population and economy. Three sub-regional patterns are defined: the suburbium,... Read More about Settlement and Society in Early Imperial Etruria.

Agrarian spaces in Roman Italy: society, economy and Mediterranean agriculture (2006)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2006). Agrarian spaces in Roman Italy: society, economy and Mediterranean agriculture. Arqueología espacial, 26, 341-359

This article aims to explore some of the wealth of evidence for the diversity of agrarian landscapes in Roman Italy. It takes as it starting point, several recent contributions to the debate about the history and ecology of the Mediterranean and Rome... Read More about Agrarian spaces in Roman Italy: society, economy and Mediterranean agriculture.

The Extended Metropolis: Urbs, Suburbium and Population (2005)
Journal Article
Witcher, R. (2005). The Extended Metropolis: Urbs, Suburbium and Population. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 18, 120-138

The relationship between Rome and its surrounding territory has long been a focus of historical and archaeological study and debate. This paper aims to add to this discussion in two specific ways. First, it questions and dismisses the pervasive dicho... Read More about The Extended Metropolis: Urbs, Suburbium and Population.

The Tiber Valley Project: The Role of GIS and Databases in Field Survey Data Integration and Analysis (2005)
Journal Article
Kay, S., & Witcher, R. (2005). The Tiber Valley Project: The Role of GIS and Databases in Field Survey Data Integration and Analysis. Archeologia e calcolatori (Testo stampato), 16, 113-127

Information Technology is at the heart of the Tiber Valley Project, from the integration, storage and analysis of data, through project management to the visualization and dissemination of results. Here, some of the ongoing applications of this techn... Read More about The Tiber Valley Project: The Role of GIS and Databases in Field Survey Data Integration and Analysis.

Three South Etrurian Crises: First Results of the Tiber Valley Project (2004)
Journal Article
Patterson, H., Di Giuseppe, H., & Witcher, R. (2004). Three South Etrurian Crises: First Results of the Tiber Valley Project. Papers of the British School at Rome, 72, 1-37

This article is intended to provide a first report on some of the core results of the British School at Rome's Tiber Valley Project. We focus upon the results of the restudy of the South Etruria Survey material and explore how this allows us to re-ev... Read More about Three South Etrurian Crises: First Results of the Tiber Valley Project.

The Sabinensis Ager Revisited: A Field Survey in the Sabina Tiberina (2002)
Journal Article
Di Giuseppe, H., Sansoni, M., Williams, J., & Witcher, R. (2002). The Sabinensis Ager Revisited: A Field Survey in the Sabina Tiberina. Papers of the British School at Rome, 70, 99-150

This paper presents the results of a small field survey in the Sabina Tiberina, to the southwest of the ancient town of Cures Sabini, north of Rome. The choice of study area and objectives respond to specific research problems identified by the Briti... Read More about The Sabinensis Ager Revisited: A Field Survey in the Sabina Tiberina.

The Tiber Valley Project: The Tiber and Rome through Two Millennia (2000)
Journal Article
Patterson, H., di Gennaro, F., Di Giuseppe, H., Fontana, S., Gaffney, V., Harrison, A., …Witcher, R. (2000). The Tiber Valley Project: The Tiber and Rome through Two Millennia. Antiquity, 74(284), 395-403

In 1997 a new collaborative research project was initiated by the British School at Rome. This project draws on a variety of sources of archaeological information to explore the regional impact of the City of Rome throughout the period from 1000 BC t... Read More about The Tiber Valley Project: The Tiber and Rome through Two Millennia.