Cultural Transformations in Germania Secunda
A Holistic Approach to 'Barbarian' Migrations
By (author) Berber S. van der Meulen-van der Veen
Paperback (Published)
(July 2025)
ISBN: 9781803279916
8.07 x 11.42 inches
Price: $63.00
In stock
This book uses a multi-variate approach to study the Late Roman Lower German frontier, challenging the role of migration in settlement changes. It highlights long-term interactive processes and continuity in material culture styles, supported by metallurgical analysis of copper-alloy dress ornaments.
Studies of the Late Roman Lower German frontier have often focused on the evidence for Germanic migrants from either burials, material culture or settlement forms. Cultural Transformations in Germania Secunda adopts a multi-variate approach combining data on settlements, finds and metallurgy in both Germania Secunda and Germania Magna to present a more complex picture. A long-term comparison of structural evidence, archaeobotanical data and handmade pottery from rural settlements challenges the role of migration in the changes observed in the Late Roman settlement landscape. Instead of distinct migration events, this book argues for long-term interactive processes such as trade, exchange and multi-directional mobility. This book further brings together evidence on style, decoration, dating, spatial distribution and find contexts of 4540 civilian and military copper-alloy dress ornaments to challenge labels such as “Roman”, “Germanic”, “military” and “civilian” to argue for long-term continuity and hybridisation of material culture styles in the Lower Rhine frontier area in the Late Roman period. This Nuanced approach is also supported by the metallurgical analysis of 686 copper-alloy dress accessories, which gave insight into the production organisation of items worn by different social groups.
Chapter 1: Introduction and literature review
Migration (theory) in (Late Roman) archaeology
Approaches to non-Roman identities in Late Roman archaeology
Discussion and thesis themes
Research objectives and thesis structure
Chapter 2: Migrant communities in rural settlements in Germania Secunda
Settlement (dis)contuinuity
Sunken feature buildings (SFB)
Rye cultivation/consumption
Handmade pottery
House architecture
Discussion
Chapter 3: Spatial and chronological distribution of civilian dress accessories
Late 3rd-4th century brooches and hairpins
4th-5th century brooches
5th century brooches and hairpins
Discussion
Chapter 4: Spatial and chronological distribution of military dress accessories
Crossbow brooches
The Late Roman military belt
Distribution and deposition
Depositional practices: ‘belt graves’
Decoration on belts
Social connotations
Discussion
Chapter 5: Methodology for pXRF and dimensional measurements
Literature review
Set-up and review
Late Roman copper alloys and the possibility of recycling
Sampling strategy and object choice
Methods for presenting data
Chapter 6: Shape of the pXRF dataset
The composition of the dataset
Decorative surface treatments
A chronological perspective
A first comparison between military and civilian alloys
Chapter 7: Compositional patterns of production in copper-alloy dress accessories
Military dress ornaments
Coefficient of variation: dimensions
A comparison with contemporary civilian dress accessories
A brief look towards the north
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix 1. Inventory of long and short houses from Late Roman settlements in Germania Secunda
Appendix 2. Inventory of sunken feature buildings (SFB) from Late Roman settlements in Germania Magna and Germania Secunda
Digital Appendices
Appendix 3. Inventory of Late Roman civilian-associated dress accessories from Germania Magna and Germania Secunda
Appendix 4. Inventory of Late Roman military-associated dress accessories from Germania Magna and Germania Secunda
Appendix 5. pXRF dataset on Late Roman copper-alloy dress accessories from Germania Magna and Germania Secunda
Appendix 6. Dataset of object dimensions of Late Roman copper-alloy dress accessories from Germania Magna and Germania Secunda
Plates
Bibliography
Classical sources
References
- By (author) Berber S. van der Meulen-van der Veen
‘This volume contains an impressive, detailed and compelling analysis of the archaeological evidence recovered so far in the Roman province of Germania Secunda, clarifying dynamic processes of cultural change over four centuries of time. Its “holistic” approach is admirable, but could perhaps more generously have folded into its comprehensive ambition what can be surmised of this period and its aftermath from the linguistic and historical records as well, at least to provide a clearer context for its processual conclusions. Even so, the author’s cautious attitude is well-taken as a fruitful corrective to some long-standing assumptions which now will require further assessment and refinement in response.’ - Craig R. Davis (2026): Bryn Mawr Classical Review
—
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