An Archaeology of Identity (UCL Institute of Archaeology Publications) - Softcover

Gardner, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1598742272 ISBN 13: 9781598742275

Publisher: Routledge, 2012

Synopsis

What happened to Roman soldiers in Britain during the decline of the empire in the 4th and 5th centuries? Did they withdraw, defect, or go native? More than a question of military history, this is the starting point for Andrew Gardner’s incisive exploration of social identity in Roman Britain, in the Roman Empire, and in ancient society. Drawing on the sociological theories of Anthony Giddens and others, Gardner shapes an approach that focuses on the central role of practice in the creation and maintenance of identities―nationalist, gendered, class, and ethnic. This theory is then tested against the material remains of Roman soldiers in Britain to show how patterning of stratigraphy, architecture, and artifacts supports his theoretical construct. The result is a retelling of the story of late Roman Britain sharply at odds with the traditional text-driven histories and a theory of human action that offers much to current debates across the social sciences.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Andrew Gardner is currently Lecturer in Roman Archaeology at Cardiff University. His previous publications include the edited volume Agency Uncovered: archaeological perspectives on social agency, power and being human (UCL Press), and his research interests include the social dynamics of Roman imperialism and the role of material culture in the expression of identity. From September 2005 he will be Lecturer in the Archaeology of the Roman Empire at University College London.

From the Back Cover

What happened to Roman soldiers in Britain during the decline of the empire in the 4th and 5th centuries? More than a question of military history, this is the starting point for Andrew Gardneras incisive sociological exploration of identity in Roman Britain, in the Roman Empire, and in ancient society.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1598742272
• ISBN 13: 9781598742275
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 312