Roman Military Architecture on the Frontiers: Armies and their Architecture in Late Antiquity ed. by Rob Collins et al.

Abstract

Reviewed by: Roman Military Architecture on the Frontiers: Armies and their Architecture in Late Antiquity ed. by Rob Collins et al. Alexander Sarantis Roman Military Architecture on the Frontiers: Armies and their Architecture in Late Antiquity Rob Collins, Matthew Symonds, M. and Meike Weber, eds. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2015. Pp. 142. ISBN: 978-1-782-97990-6 This edited collection is one of the latest publications on fortifications and the army in Late Antiquity. The papers focus mainly on archaeological evidence for fourth-century developments on the Roman frontiers. Three contributions are devoted to British sites and one each to [End Page 533] sites on the Flemish coast and the Upper and Lower Danube. There are, in addition, two syntheses of evidence from the North African and Arabian frontiers, and one study devoted to the textual sources. The introductory chapter makes clear that the aim of the volume is to cast light on the "realities of life for the late Roman soldier across all parts of the later empire" via the detailed study of archaeological remains. The introductory chapter by Collins and Weber outlines the significance and state of research on the Late Roman army. After running through methodological issues involved in studying this enormous institution via texts and frontier fortifications, it concludes that the late Roman army was more dynamic, varied and adaptable than its early imperial predecessor. In Chapter 2, Whately focuses on textual evidence for frontier troop dispositions. The lack of epigraphic evidence and the complexity of the Notitia Dignitatum mean that there is less certainty about the locations, sizes and histories of frontier units than in the earlier imperial era. He demonstrates nevertheless that on the Lower Danube units were divided and stationed in more numerous locations. Chapter 3 by Collins surveys the changing morphology of granaries along Hadrian's Wall during the fourth century. These granaries variously had raised floors filled in, were sub-divided, re-used for industrial or residential purposes, or destroyed. In some cases, they continued partly in use. Collins considers how these developments related to the changing nature of military supply and organisation: possibly reflecting a greater reliance on local rather than imported provisions. Petts reports the excavation of a barrack block at Binchester, County Durham, in Chapter 4. At some stage in the later fourth century, the barrack was, like the site's praetorium, reused for butchery. Petts hypothesizes that this could reflect Binchester's transformation into a military supply and production center. Chapter 5 by Symonds discusses fourth-century British fortlets. While the most studied are those on the Yorkshire coast, Symonds identifies additional examples on Angelsey and near Caernarfon in Wales, in Cumbria, and south of Carlisle, and suggests that while stone fortlets could have defended coastlines from naval raids, inland "turf-and-timber" fortlets were local security measures. Vanhoutte reports on recent rescue excavation work at Oudenburg, Belgium, in Chapter 6. Like other stone forts on the English Channel, this was apparently inhabited by soldiers and civilians in the fourth century, with evidence for a bath building, brooch manufacture, and artifacts suggesting the presence of women and children. Burial evidence, interestingly, attests a "Germanic" presence in the final occupation phase. In Chapter 7, Mosser traces the development of the legionary fortress of Vindobona. Its fourth-century remains reflect the existence of a smaller military garrison living alongside a civilian population. The transformation of barrack rooms into workshops is one example of this development. In the fifth century, the site was temporarily abandoned before some areas were reused for residential purposes. Chapter 8, by Lemke, provides another example of the civilian function of frontier fortresses, charting the development of a number of internal structures at Novae on the Lower Danube across Late Antiquity. The chapter also contains an interesting discussion of epigraphic evidence for the primipilarii, civilian [End Page 534] officials responsible for importing military supplies from Asia Minor. Arce surveys two major changes to fortifications along the limes Arabicus in Chapter 9: the expansion and transformation of Severan forts into quadriburgia as part of the Diocletianic renovation of eastern frontier defences; and the conversion of these into political and religious centers...