4.18 Publications
The temple of Mithras monograph describes how the initial research aim to obtain and assess archaeological information about the Walbrook valley unexpectedly discovered the remains of a well preserved Roman temple with associated high-quality sculpture. The sculptures, among the best known finds from Roman London, identified the building as a temple devoted to Mithras, a secret cult popular among soldiers and merchants. The temple was founded c AD 240-50 and was altered several times during its use, including conversion by followers of another cult, possible one devoted to Bacchus. The building fell into disuse towards the end of the fourth century. The report includes detailed stratigraphic and structural evidence, a finds catalogue, and discussion of the evidence from the Walbrook valley.
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The temple of Mithras monograph describes how the initial research aim to obtain and assess archaeological information about the Walbrook valley unexpectedly discovered the remains of a well preserved Roman temple with associated high-quality sculpture. The sculptures, among the best known finds from Roman London, identified the building as a temple devoted to Mithras, a secret cult popular among soldiers and merchants. The temple was founded c AD 240-50 and was altered several times during its use, including conversion by followers of another cult, possible one devoted to Bacchus. The building fell into disuse towards the end of the fourth century. The report includes detailed stratigraphic and structural evidence, a finds catalogue, and discussion of the evidence from the Walbrook valley.
Science in archaeology comprises 24 papers presented at the conference and summing up. The papers are grouped into four broad chronological periods Palaeolithic, Mesolithic to early Iron Age, later Iron Age and Roman, Medieval and later but many papers range across several of these periods, and there are numerous recurrent themes. Each paper includes an element of reporting and review, and sets the agenda for the future of the contribution of the sciences to archaeology by identifying archaeological questions that existing scientific techniques or refinements of them can be applied.
Editorial and design work continued on many other monographs and these should be published in 1998 or early in 1999. These include: Boxgrove: a Middle Pleistocene hominid site at Eartham Quarry, Boxgrove, West Sussex, Etton: excavations at a Neolithic causeweyed enclosure near Maxey, Cambridgeshire, 1982-7, The Rows of Chester: the Chester Rows Research Project, The archaeology of Wells Cathedral: excavations and structural studies, 1978-93, John Dwight's Fulham Pottery: excavations 1971-9, Cadbury Castle, Somerset: the later prehistoric and early historic archaeology, The Roman baths and macellum at Wroxeter: excavations by Graham Webster, 1955-85, Wroxeter: excavations of the Roman baths and macellum 1955-85, the legionary fortress, and Dangerous energy: the archaeology of the gunpowder industry (with the RCMHE).
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Texts were also received for several more reports, including the Wootton-Quarr Isle of Wight coastal survey, the Flag Fen excavation report, the Barnard Castle excavations, the St Albans urban archaeology assessment, and London Cripplegate: post-Roman excavations.
Through 1997-98 the Publications Guidebooks Team produced numerous new guides to English Heritage sites, including souvenir guides to Audley End, St Augustine's Abbey, Dover Castle (also French and German editions), Clifford's Tower, and Down House; a brief guide to Bolsover Castle; and colour handbooks to Berry Pomeroy and Etal Castle. A new Collections Review guide was also published, as was a revised edition of our Guide for Visitors with Disabilities (including a braille edition). In addition 49 reprints and revised reprints of existing guidbooks were also produced and the children's book I Spy Hadrian's Wall was published with Michelin.
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Volumes in the English Heritage/Batsford series published during the 1996-97 year included Roman forts in Britain by Paul Bidwell, Winchester by Tom Beaumont James, Channel defences by Andrew Saunders, The Yorkshire Dales by Robert White, Ships and shipwrecks by Peter Marsden, St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury edited by Richard Gem, and Stone Age Britain by Nicholas Barton. Another co-publication was Stonehenge: mysteries of the stones and landscape by David Souden, published with Collins and Brown.