The hairstyles of the empresses of the Roman Empire, like Julia Domna and Sabina Tranquillina, are distinctive for every empress. Sometimes the changes are subtle but sometimes they are also major....Show moreThe hairstyles of the empresses of the Roman Empire, like Julia Domna and Sabina Tranquillina, are distinctive for every empress. Sometimes the changes are subtle but sometimes they are also major. Empresses were known for these hairstyles and influenced the provinces with them. The coins that were distributed throughout the empire had enough details on them to reproduce these hairstyles. That these hairstyles were actually reproduced is visible on the tombstones from Britain. Not all hairstyles are distinctive on a tombstone, either because of the state of the tombstone or because the hair was styled at the back of the head which is not visible on a tombstone. The hairstyles that are distinctive on tombstones are very well visible and can actually add towards dating the tombstone more precisely. Hairpins were not depicted on either the sculptures of the empresses or on the tombstones but it is known from sources from other regions that they were used abundantly. Hairpins are found in different amounts on every site. Military sites along Hadrian’s Wall do not have as many hairpins as civilian based sites. An exception is South Shields, but this is a military site that was not actually along Hadrian’s Wall. From the civilian based sites we have learned that hairpins were found everywhere. A great place to find hairpins is at baths, this is represented by the finds from Caerleon and Wroxeter. One important conclusion about the hairpins is that the materials vary more among the later dated pins than they do among the earlier dated pins. Other finds that have to do with hairstyles are hair, hairpieces and hairnets, which can also be found but are not as common as hairpins. There has been an amazing find of a bun with hairpins in York but this is an extraordinary find. Other regions have yielded more examples but unfortunately not yet in Britain. There is one find from Britain of an elaborate decorated headband which is also extraordinary. Changes in hairstyles and fashion are visible in the archaeological record through the remains that are left of these hairstyles and depictions.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
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This paper examines the use of the medium of sculpture in the public sphere in Roman East Midlands including sculpture in the round, reliefs, architectural decoration, tombstones and inscriptions....Show moreThis paper examines the use of the medium of sculpture in the public sphere in Roman East Midlands including sculpture in the round, reliefs, architectural decoration, tombstones and inscriptions. The aim of the research is to analyse the social aspects of the public display of the sculptural medium in order to understand what role sculpture had within the society and the reasons behind choices such as subject matter, form and style. All of the sculptures and inscriptions from the chosen study area between and including Lincoln, Leicester and Water Newton are examined in detail and discussed within the context of their find location. The visual effect of sculpture is examined in terms of location in the landscape, the composition of the image and the visual impact of style. The question of identity is also discussed in terms of the commissioning and use of sculpture and the choice of style. In order to gain a better understanding on the fragmented nature and poor survival of sculptures in the area, their fate in terms of re-use and the scale of possible loss is also examined. Although the poor survival of Romano-British sculpture in the East Midlands makes them a difficult area of study, the aim of this paper is to examine different ways of viewing the material in order to gain more insight into the society who acquired and used such sculptural displays.Show less
