From the bankers of Puteoli to Roman Britain

If you were a 1st-century AD Roman who wanted to buy a place in the country, go on a cruise around the Mediterranean, or just carry out some home improvements, where did you go to borrow money? David Jones provides the answer in his new book on finance, trade and industry in the Roman world. We also find out what Britain was like after the conquest of AD 43 in Guy de le Bédoyère’s new history of Roman Britain.

Of all the new books that have passed over the desks of the Oxbow staff this month, these, for whatever reason, are the ones that grabbed their attention.

New Releases

Equids in Time and Space The history of equids is associated with the history of human movement, trade and exchange in later prehistory, which is why the relationship between people and horses is widely regarded as an issue of general archaeological, and not simply zooarchaeological, interest. The archaeological investigation of human-equ
Mashkour, M

The domestication of the horse represents a particularly controversial issue in zooarchaeology. The history of equids is associated with the history of human movement, trade and exchange in later prehistory, which is why the relationship between people and horses, more so than for any other species, is widely regarded as an issue of general archaeological, and not simply zooarchaeological, interest. To identify truly domestic horses and donkeys it is vital that sound methods are devised to tackle that most intractable of zooarchaeological problems - the separation of wild and domestic forms and of various equid species (including their hybrids). The archaeological investigation of the history of the human-equid relationship is, therefore, complex, diverse and fascinating - and the ideal subject for an ICAZ session and a book of the series. There are methodological as well as historical chapters dealing with problems ranging from the earliest purported evidence for domestication, to the role of horses in the classical periods; the geographic scope is also vast, spanning Portugal to China, and Siberia to Africa. This book is a testimony to the excellence of current archaeological research into equids, and a testimony to one of the most remarkable animals ever to have thrown in its lot with mankind.

Beyond 'Affluent-foragers'
edited by Colin Grier, Jangsuk Kim and Junzo Uchiyama

The term "affluent-foragers" has traditionally described the socio-economic conditions of some coastal fisher-hunters. It implies a high standard of living achieved by high levels of sedentism, made possible by efficient adaptation to the environment. This volume aims to reassess this concept, using case studies from Australia, South America and Japan.

Conferences we will be attending

Institute of Field Archaeologists Conference
Edinburgh, UK (Tuesday 11th April, 2006 - Thursday 13th April, 2006)
Wide range of issues are addressed, sessions are to include: Visions of the future: live debates on big issues in the historic environment, The Beaker Isotope Project: mobility and diet in the British early Bronze age, Digital archaeology: from cradle to grave, British rock-art for the future: new approaches to research, management and the public, Roman Archaeology, Highlights in British Archaeology, 2005, Archaeology and Civil Engineering, North - south divide? Approaches to maritime archaeology around Britain and Immigration/migration.
http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=1/