A Late Roman Well at Heslington East, York: ritual or routine practices?

Roskams, Steve; Neal, Cath; Richardson, Jane; Leary, Ruth

doi:10.11141/ia.34.5

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…On the contrary, I suggest, the Heslington evidence implies that tying down the meaning of the term and, more importantly, differentiating 'specially placed' deposits from prosaic discard is vital. It helps us to understand not only diversity of human response but also the complex interaction of different human intentions imprinted on the landscape (Roskams et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In what follows, I will evaluate such approaches using a case study of water access at Heslington East, a site in the immediate hinterland of York. That project will be published shortly (Roskams and Neal forthcoming) and a full archive of its detailed evidence made publicly accessible via the Archaeology Data Service (an outline site background is already available: Roskams et al 2013). Thus I do not pretend to cover all such matters in this landscape, still less to describe fully the detailed evidence which underpins the statements made.…”

Section: The Supply Of Water In the Roman World: Current Approaches Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The construction, use and demise of W2 are detailed elsewhere (Roskams et al 2013) but, like W1, involved a combination of ritual and routine practices. In summary, its carefully-laid lining of newly-quarried stone also incorporated an intrusively-positioned, reused roof finial: a stone moved from heights to depth, but designed to be still visible afterwards.…”

Section: Case Study: Digging Wells At Heslington Eastmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Limitation of Water Flow and the Limitations of Postmodernism

Roskams

2019

Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal

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This article critically evaluates how far the interpretation of archaeological evidence has been aided by the recent 'materialist turn' in social theory. This perspective, linked to the work of Bruno Latour, argues that we should give agency to not only humans but also to cultural objects and environmental processes. It thus increasingly influences archaeological interpretation. By considering how water supply has been theorised in the Roman World, then setting such theories against evidence for two wells from a landscape near York, I argue that we should retain a distinction between human agents and natural processes. The implication is that Latour's stance, by failing to provide a social context for interaction between culture and nature, is problematic for archaeological understanding. In contrast, I suggest, Marxist analytical tools provide a more vibrant way forward in explaining both past developments and present climate crises.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Supply Of Water In the Roman World: Current Approaches Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Case Study: Digging Wells At Heslington Eastmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Limitation of Water Flow and the Limitations of Postmodernism

Roskams

2019

Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal

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“…In the light of this long list of limitations and complexities, it is perhaps important to mention an example where the integration of different assemblage types with detailed stratigraphic information has managed to reach important conclusions about past human activity in this landscape, something published in advance of the monograph (Roskams et al 2013). Where projects take decades to complete, the decision to disseminate a self-contained site feature before the main monograph is itself an additional sphere needing more discussion than it usually gets).…”

Section: Post-excavation Assessment and Analysis At Heslingtonmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Post-excavation Analysis and Archiving of Outputs from Complex, Multi-period Landscape Investigations: the example of Heslington East, York

Roskams

2020

Internet Archaeol.

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This article discusses the post-excavation analysis and archiving of data generated by fieldwork undertaken at Heslington East near York in the UK. This project, stretching over two decades, involved two commercial companies and a student training and local community element, and recently concluded with a thematic publication (Roskams and Neal 2020). The article has twin objectives. First, on a theoretical level, it reflects on the complex challenges that arise when attempting to combine diverse stratigraphic, spatial and assemblage data from different sources to reach meaningful interpretations of an extensive, multi-period landscape. Second, on a practical level, it aims to act as an introduction to the project's archives to make them accessible to future audiences, something that is essential if we are to enable any re-interpretation of the site. I suggest that such archives embody a series of transformations. These comprise first the interpretation of reconnaissance and evaluation procedures, converted to generate an excavation strategy, something briefly summarised here. I then discuss at greater length: the processes of post-excavation analysis of stratigraphic and spatial data, and their relationship with the MoRPHE requirement (Historic England 2006) to select particular assemblages for detailed analysis; linking the latter, specialist reports on selected assemblages to preliminary interpretations of site evidence, an iterative process that creates more soundly based understanding; and the recasting of summaries of the most significant evidence in these secondary interpretations to fit the thematic organisation of the published report. I argue that each of these hierarchically ordered transformations needs to be understood if we are to facilitate effective re-use of site archives.

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“…Even if ritual exists on a spectrum with daily habits, there must be some distinguishing features for the term to have any relevance. For example, Roskams et al (2013) describe ritual objects as "ceremonial, deliberate, formal, formalised, intentional, non-utilitarian, odd, peculiar, placed, ritual, selected, special, symbolic, token and unusual." Scott Kilmer (1977, p. 45) wrote "ritual consists of sacred ceremonies and their routines, with the routines being seen as consecrated acts which contain great mystical powers."…”

Section: A Potted History Of Ritualsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Worldfulness, Role-enrichment & Moving Rituals: Design Ideas for CRPGs

Champion

2016

ToDIGRA

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Roles and rituals are essential for creating, situating and maintaining cultural practices. Computer Role-Playing games (CRPGs) and virtual online worlds that appear to simulate different cultures are well known and highly popular. So it might appear that the roles and rituals of traditional cultures are easily ported to computer games. However, I contend that the meaning behind worlds, rituals and roles are not fully explored in these digital games and virtual worlds and that more needs to be done in order to create worldfulness, moving rituals and role enrichment. I will provide examples from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and The ElderScrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda, 2006, 2011) to reveal some of the difficulties in creating digitally simulated social and cultural worlds, but I will also suggest some design ideas that could improve them in terms of cultural presence and social presence.

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A Late Roman Well at Heslington East, York: ritual or routine practices?

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

The Limitation of Water Flow and the Limitations of Postmodernism

The Limitation of Water Flow and the Limitations of Postmodernism

The Post-excavation Analysis and Archiving of Outputs from Complex, Multi-period Landscape Investigations: the example of Heslington East, York

Worldfulness, Role-enrichment & Moving Rituals: Design Ideas for CRPGs

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