K Lockyear

Site Finds in Roman Britain: a comparison of techniques

This paper compares Reece’s (1995b) method for the comparison of coin lists, outlined in his paper Site Finds in Roman Britain, with two more formal statistical methods: Dmax-based Cluster Analysis and Correspondence Analysis. Reece’s data from Roman Coins from 140 sites in Britain (1991b) are re-analysed, the various methods compared, and some preliminary patterns identified.

Where Do We Go From Here? Recording and Analysing Roman Coins from Archaeological Excavations

The publication of English Heritages guidelines for the analysis and publication of coins from excavations has not met with acceptance by the relevant specialists. This paper takes the opportunity to look back over what we have been doing, consider what the guidelines suggest, and makes recommendations as to where we could be going. In particular it argues that we should be making more of existing database technologies and the internet, and that the analysis of coins should be integrated with other aspects of the archaeological record. The paper is not a new set of guidelines, but is intended to stimulate debate.

Plant remains from buried soils, Romsey, Hampshire

Excavations which followed an archaeological evaluation in advance of the extension to the Waitrose supermarket at Romsey, Hampshire, afforded the opportunity of archaeologically examining the deep soil structures revealed on the site. Because of the difficulty of excavating undifferentiated brick earth soils, the bulk of the deposit was excavated in spits though obvious features were excavated using normal techniques. A sequence of samples was taken along two transects as well as from all spits. The results of the analysis of the charred plant remains from the site has revealed the densities and distribution of species and components within the plant assemblage. This has helped to provide information about the past use of the site and has indicated that plant remains can provide useful archaeological information where other environmental or artefactual data are absent and there is also an absence of site stratigraphy. On this site such remains provided information about past horticultural use of the land and possible ancient land boundaries.