2023 RFG Spring Meeting

Archaeology Conference

The RFG spring 2023 meeting was being held in association with the University of Nottingham and its Museum. There were five sessions of papers with twenty one illustrated talks, on various aspects of finds from recent work in the Roman Midlands and beyond. There was a wine reception and private viewing of the Museum on the Friday, followed by the conference dinner. The RFG AGM took place on day two before lunch.

Day One: Friday 21st April 2023

• 13.00 Registration. Welcome tea/coffee
• 13.20 Welcome and Introduction: Will Bowden Professor of Roman Archaeology University of Nottingham and editor of Britannia

Session One: Finds from the Roman Midlands
Chair: Will Bowden

• 13.30   Portable Antiquities Scheme FLOs: Finds from the Midlands
• 13:55   Rachel Cubitt (Historic England) and Jen Browning (University of Leicester Archaeological Services): Investigations at Rutland Roman Villa
• 14.20   Dr Denise Allen (Independent Researcher): “The winter does not pass through me but the sun sparkles within me” – Experiments in the manufacture of Roman window glass and its use in Britain from military  bath houses to villas
• 14.45   Kevin Winter (National Civil War Centre – Newark Museum) and Richard Parker (Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group): Norton Disney Roman villa: new evidence and old of its industrial past
• 15.10   Tea/Coffee – viewing of finds and posters

Session Two: Finds from the Roman Midlands
Chair: Katie Mountain

• 15.40   Dr Alex Mullen and Dr Anna Willi (LatinNow, University of Nottingham): Small finds, big questions: writing equipment and literacy in Roman Britain and beyond (hybrid in-person and via ZOOM)
• 16.10   Dr Steve Malone (York Archaeology): Not beyond use: an enamelled miniature stand from Wingerworth, Derbyshire
• 16:35   Dr Natasha Harlow (University of Nottingham): Using Roman finds for outreach, learning and community participation
• 17:00   Sam Glasswell (Bassetlaw Museum): The Roman Archaeological Landscape of North Nottinghamshire
• 17:25   Dr Clare Pickersgill, (University of Nottingham Museum): Introduction to the University of Nottingham Museum

Reception at University of Nottingham Museum

• 17.45 – 18.45 Wine reception and private viewing of the University of Nottingham Museum

Evening Social / Conference Meal

• 19.00- 21.00 A buffet style meal with soft drinks at £15.95 at the Lakeside Café (please book a ticket if you wish to come to the meal).

Day Two: Saturday April 22nd 2023

Session Three: Finds from the Roman Midlands
Chair: Natasha Harlow

• 08.55   Welcome
• 09.00    Dr Roger White (Birmingham University): The Wem Hoard
• 09.25   Dr Adam Daubney (Finds Specialist): Roman TOT rings revisited
• 09.50   Helen Sharp (Leicestershire County Council Museums): The Hallaton Helmet Assemblage
• 10.15   Paddy Lambert (Oxford Archaeology East): The Finds from the Excavations at a Romano-British villa at Priors Hall, Corby
• 10.40   Tea/Coffee – viewing of finds and posters

Session Four: Finds from Beyond the Roman Midlands
Chair: Barbara Birley

• 11.10   Dr Antony Lee (Treasure Trove Unit, National Museum of Scotland): Dead gods in glass boxes? The display and interpretation of Romano-British religious objects in museums (Pre-recorded, live Q&A)
• 11.35   Dr Stephen Greep (Roman Finds Group) and Prof. Rev. Martin Henig (University of Oxford): A Late antique casket from the Fordham Roman villa
• 12.00   Dr Jo Ball (University of Liverpool): The Hidden Epigraphers of Britannia: Women as Dedicators & Recipients of Tombstones in Roman Britain
• 12.25   Naomi Aliza Rubinstein (University of Liverpool): New identifications of copies in 4th century Romano- British coin hoards
• 12:50   Lunch (Roman Finds Group 2023 AGM 12:50-13:00)

Session Five: Finds from Beyond the Roman Midlands
Chair: Frances McIntosh

• 14.00   Dr Louisa Campbell (University of Glasgow): The Vindolanda Vessel: New Analysis of a Roman Gladiator  Glass (Pre-recorded)
• 14.25   Chas Harper (Newcastle University): Bound in Bronze: Roman ‘barbarian’ figurines of North-West Europe
• 14.50   Brooke Pollio (MOLA): The Stoke Mandeville statue heads
• 15.15   Dr Daniël van Helden (Arch-I-Scan, University of Leicester) The development of AI to identify Samian ware
• 15.40   Conclusion (Stephen Greep) and End.