Foundations: an integrated landscape analysis of Romano-Celtic temple locations in South-West Roman Britain

Thesis

Research into rural Romano-Celtic temples in Britain has been predominantly site- based, with consideration of their landscape context generally confined to descriptive observations. This dissertation pilots a landscape archaeology methodology to explore the selection of temple locations by their ‘builders’, with a particular focus on case studies of Cold Kitchen Hill and Lamyatt Beacon. The methodology draws on the academic and grey literature, modern and historic mapping, aerial photography and LiDAR data, supplemented by field visits. The use of GIS, including visibility analysis, is also central to the project, which is underpinned by relevant theory.

The results provide new evidence for roads, villas and field systems, whilst viewshed analysis offers insights into the visual relationships between the temple locations and the surrounding landscape. An interpretation of the synthesised evidence suggests that the Cold Kitchen Hill location is likely to have been selected by the native elite based at Brixton Deverill villa for its pre-existing and potentially sacred significance dating to the Iron Age, together with its strategic importance at the convergence of three roads and on the boundary of three civitates. Whilst Lamyatt Beacon is likely to have been connected to the villa at Ditcheat, its accessibility and visual prominence are likely to have been key factors in the selection of its location. These attributes coupled with the adoption of same cult as Cold Kitchen Hill are likely to have combined to attract pilgrims, including people from the civitas capital at Ilchester and its prosperous environs. The success of this ‘new’ temple at Lamyatt Beacon is illustrated by its connections with the later temple at Brean Down.

The wider implications include further evidence for close connections between temples and villas, and that notions of elite social display might be usefully extended to Romano-Celtic temples. Furthermore, that binary interpretations in the literature, particularly those relating to concepts such as ‘estate temples’ or ‘cult centres’, and ‘sacred’ or ‘secular’, risk masking the complexity of decision making regarding the selection of temple locations. Additionally, rural temples may not have been as isolated as previously suggested, and notions of local pilgrimage offer much potential for future research. Finally, the dissertation is significant in demonstrating that a landscape archaeology methodology can make an important contribution to the interpretation of Romano-Celtic temples.

Authors: Godfrey, N

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-vjyxzdxmb
• Type of award: MSc
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Roman; Romano-Celtic temples; archaeology; Roman religion; landscape archaeology; Romano-British
• Subjects: Archaeology