The hidden social lives of Roman objects and burials
In short: Was a small pendant a protective charm for a sick child, or a fan's token for a gladiator? Archaeologist Michael Marshall explores how tiny artifacts and unusual burials reveal the complex identities, social hierarchies, and daily lives of people in Roman Britain.
Archaeologist Michael Marshall examines how small finds serve as windows into Roman life. In his work, even minor objects like pendants can represent diverse human experiences, ranging from personal superstitions to public displays of support for gladiatorial spectacle. By analyzing these items, researchers can reconstruct the emotional and social landscapes of the past. These artifacts are often recovered from diverse contexts, such as the extramural areas of Roman London. Researchers also look for votive objects and militaria to understand these interactions. This work helps clarify how provincial identities were reimagined within Romano-British society.
Marshall's research also highlights the starker realities of Roman social structures. He documented a unique burial in Great Casterton, Rutland, dating to 226–427 AD, where a male skeleton was found secured at the ankles with iron fetters and a padlock. While this may imply the individual was a slave, the presence of shackles in a burial remains a subject of study regarding its broader social and symbolic implications. This specific find is considered the first definitive excavated instance of such a burial in Roman Britain. The individual also had iron hobnails around their feet. Experts continue to debate whether the shackles signify a specific status or a different symbolic meaning. The burial was located in a probable ditch.
His excavations at Liverpool Street for the Crossrail project also revealed domestic and industrial life. The site yielded 455 small finds, including 81 glass sherds and 51 leather shoes. Notably, the discovery of writing tools in waterlogged conditions suggests a literacy rate comparable to other similar sites, while the presence of bone and ivory waste points to specific family-run workshops operating in the area for generations. The Liverpool Street site was associated with a road and an adjacent cemetery. A severed man's wrist was found with a big ring of iron during the digs. The area was surrounded by dumping near the upper Walbrook valley. Additionally, the site contained a large group of hipposandals found on the road surface.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Roman Sporting Memorabilia - Michael Marshall
- Also: Marshall, M, 2018 Roman small finds, glass and leather from excavations at the Broadgate ticket hall site, Liverpool Street (XSM10), Archive report
- Also: Michael Marshall - Profile on Academia.edu
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