Nicopolis Ad Istrum Iii

This, the third and final monograph, completes the description of the excavations carried out by the British team, part of the Anglo-Bulgarian archaeological programme on the site of Nicopolis ad Istrum in northern Bulgaria, one of the best-preserved ancient cities of the Roman Empire. The site provided a unique opportunity to compare the changing layout and economy of an urban centre from the Roman to the late Roman and the early Byzantine periods (c. AD 100-600). The excavations, geophysics, coins and wall-plaster were published in volume 1. Volume 2 describes the evidence for economic changes between the Roman and early Byzantine periods and contains full reports on the pottery and the glass. This volume includes full descriptions of all small-finds (ceramic copper-alloy and iron objects, glass, lamps, sculpture, architecture and flints) each object provided with a description of its archaeological context and the date of deposition. The second half of the volume identifies the environmental and economic differences between the three main periods in the history of the site. Reports include quantified assemblages of zooarchaeological finds (large and, small mammals), fish, birds, archaeobotanical remains, mollusca and human skeletons as well as the results of metallurgical analysis: copper-alloy, iron and 'natural' steel. Not only is this range and quantity of finds in these reports unparalleled in the Balkans, they represent a valuable resource for the material culture of the Roman and late Roman periods coming, as they do, from a part of the Roman Empire which has produced very few comparable assemblages. Of no less importance are the quantified bioarchaeological data which offers a unique insight into the charging morphology and economy of a Roman, late Roman and early Byzantine city.

This, the third and final monograph, completes the description of the excavations carried out by the British team, part of the Anglo-Bulgarian archaeological programme on the site of Nicopolis ad Istrum in northern Bulgaria, one of the best-preserved ancient cities of the Roman Empire. The site provided a unique opportunity to compare the changing layout and economy of an urban centre from the Roman to the late Roman and the early Byzantine periods (c. AD 100-600). The excavations, geophysics, coins and wall-plaster were published in volume 1. Volume 2 describes the evidence for economic changes between the Roman and early Byzantine periods and contains full reports on the pottery and the glass. This volume includes full descriptions of all small-finds (ceramic copper-alloy and iron objects, glass, lamps, sculpture, architecture and flints) each object provided with a description of its archaeological context and the date of deposition. The second half of the volume identifies the environmental and economic differences between the three main periods in the history of the site. Reports include quantified assemblages of zooarchaeological finds (large and, small mammals), fish, birds, archaeobotanical remains, mollusca and human skeletons as well as the results of metallurgical analysis: copper-alloy, iron and 'natural' steel. Not only is this range and quantity of finds in these reports unparalleled in the Balkans, they represent a valuable resource for the material culture of the Roman and late Roman periods coming, as they do, from a part of the Roman Empire which has produced very few comparable assemblages. Of no less importance are the quantified bioarchaeological data which offers a unique insight into the charging morphology and economy of a Roman, late Roman and early Byzantine city.

The remarkable preservation of this Bulgarian site and the comprehensive nature of the British research programme combine to provide a unique insight into the physical, economic and palaeo- environmental history of a Roman city from the early 2nd to the late 6th century A.D. This first volume contains the results of the excavations, geophysical surveys, coins, epigraphic finds and an analysis of the Severan frescoes. It also summarises the results of the large environmental programme, small- find, architectural material and ceramic studies and assesses their implications for the city in its regional context and its relations with other parts of the Roman Empire and the early Byzantine world.

Preliminary material -- THE CULT OF SARAPIS AND ISIS -- THE CULT OF THE (GREAT) MOTHER OF GODS -- THE CULT OF SABAZIOS -- MONUMENTS WITH DEDICATIONS TO THE GOD (OR ZEUS) HYPSISTOS -- V. THE CULT OF ZEUS (JUPITER) DOLICHENUS -- THE GODDESSES ON THE BRONZE PLAQUES FROM RAZGRAD AND THEIR PARALLELS -- DEA SYRIA -- THE HOLY AND THE RIGHTEOUS GODS -- THE CAPITOLINE TRIAD IN ITS ANATOLIAN VARIANT (IX, 1-2) -- PRIAPUS -- GLYCON. THE MONUMENT FROM TOMI -- MÊN -- NOTES -- INDICES -- PLATES.

The results of recent archaeological excavation, systematic rural survey and detailed studies of pottery distributions have revealed the extent and complexities of the economy in the eastern empire. The eight papers in this volume demonstrate this complexity and prosperity, examining several types of product and how the economy evolved over time. Contents: New Rome, new theories on Inter-regional exchange: East Mediterranean economy in Late Antiquity ( Sean Kingsley and Michael Decker ); Urban Economies of Late Antique Cyrenaica ( Andrew Wilson ); The economic impact of the Palestinian wine trade in Late Antiquity ( Sean Kingsley ); Food for an empire: wine and oil production in North Syria ( Michael Decker ); Beyond the amphora: non-ceramic evidence for Late Antique industry and trade ( Marlia Mundell Mango ); The economy of Late Antique Cyprus ( Tassos Papacostas ); LR2: a container for the military annona on the Danubian border? ( Olga Karagiorgou ); Specialization, trade and prosperity: an overview of the economy of the Late Antique Eastern Mediterranean ( Bryan Ward-Perkins ).