The Practical Epigraphy Workshop which the British Epigraphy Society held at the National Roman Legion Museum at Caerleon on 27 to 28 June 2007 was the first of its kind. As a prototype, it was highly successful, though in the light of our experiences a number of changes were made to the design in advance of our second workshop. The most important of these was to lengthen the event by an extra day to allow much more time for participants to practice the practical skills.
It was a great pleasure to be based at The National Roman Legion Museum. Not only is the the museum well run with friendly, welcoming and helpful staff, but the town of Caerleon is pleasant, relaxing, and rich in history, notably of the Roman period.
The museum has a good collection of Roman inscriptions, especially in terms of range, including material as diverse as an inked writing tablet as well as arguably the finest monumental inscription from Roman Britain. Tombstones form the largest category within the collection. An impressive proportion of the epigraphic material is on display in the museum's excellent exhibition, though for a practical workshop this has its drawbacks as the museum has enjoyed great success in attracting trips by school-children of all ages. The gallery can therefore be busy and noisy (but long may this continue!).
The museum's reserve collection of inscribed materials is kept in a basement, and is well organised. There is a working area adjacent to this, but it is limited in size and cannot comfortably accommodate a group of more than twelve students. Other facilities for study are excellent, and include a small library which can be used for plenary sessions, a laboratory, kitchen area, and flexibility over opening hours.
Of the stones we used for study or for demonstrating practical skills, all could be used again. For those studying Greek epigraphy, we took a selection of squeezes.
Programme
Wednesday
Travel to venue.
DIY tour of Caerleon, the Roman fortress, the Roman Legionary Museum and its epigraphic collections, drawing in the Museum if desired.
16.40-17.00: Participants Register outside front door of museum (inside if raining).
17.00-18.00: Plenary session for workshop participants on drawing, squeezing, and photographing inscriptions (Charles Crowther and Roger Tomlin). Brief talks by CC & RT, rest of time drawing with supervision.
18.00: Richard Grasby: Making the Trajanic marble inscription from Caerleon, RIB 330.
Dinner in a local restaurant.
Thursday
09.00-09.30: Roger Tomlin (Wolfson College, Oxford): Fifty Years of Roman Inscriptions of Britain.
09.30-10.10: Julie Reynolds (Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon): Walking tour of the epigraphic collection at Caerleon.
10.10-10.30: Charles Crowther (CSAD, Oxford): working in Greek Museums.
10.30-11.00: tea / coffee & biscuits in library.
11.00-12.00: hands-on practical session (measuring, squeeze-making, drawing). Continued after lunch.
12.00-13.00: Richard Grasby: Demonstration of letter-cutting.
13.00-14.00: sandwich lunch
14.00-15.30: further supervised practical session, focussing on prepared texts.
15.30-16.00: tea / coffee & cake in library.
16.00-17.30: presentations by participants
17.30-18.00: close.
Review by Jonathan Eaton, Queen's University Belfast
There can be few more appropriate sites for an epigraphy workshop than the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon with its fascinating collection of inscriptions. The Practical Epigraphy workshop was attended by fourteen postgraduate students from as far a-field as Belfast, Durham, Edinburgh and Exeter, as well as Oxford, Cambridge and London. Eight of the postgraduates specialised in Greek epigraphy while the remainder were interested in Latin epigraphy. Each participant had been given at least one inscription to work with during the workshop and had been notified of this before the course began in order to carry out preliminary research before arriving in Caerleon.
The workshop began in the late afternoon of 27th June with a plenary session on the basic practical techniques of epigraphy. Charles Crowther and Graham Oliver demonstrated the art of squeezing using inscriptions from the museum collection. Roger Tomlin gave an informative talk on the methods he used in the field to record Roman inscriptions in Britain which allowed the participants to understand the practical uses of the techniques which had been demonstrated. In the evening Richard Grasby gave a lecture entitled Making the Trajanic marble inscription from Caerleon RIB 330 which was also well attended by members of the general public. This lecture was particularly valuable in demonstrating how the modern restoration or replication of inscriptions can provide clues as to the methods and personal quirks of the original letter cutter. The evening ended with a meal in a local Indian restaurant.
The following day commenced with a slideshow by Roger Tomlin on Fifty Years of Roman Inscriptions of Britain, which described both the history of this on-going project and the variety of the inscriptions which have been examined as well as some of the more obscure places where such material appears! This was followed by a walking tour of the epigraphic collection on display in the museum led by the curator, Julie Reynolds. Several of the more intriguing inscriptions were discussed in the course of this tour and the detective work which has gone into understanding the relationship between different funerary epitaphs in the collection was highlighted. After a brief break for tea and coffee in the museum library, the participants were able to continue making squeezes using inscriptions from the museum as well as practising their drawing skills. The participants then enjoyed a demonstration of letter-cutting by Richard Grasby which illustrated the various techniques used in the production of inscriptions. A few lucky volunteers were able to have a go at cutting their own letters on stone with Richard's generous encouragement. This was certainly a once in a lifetime experience and demonstrated the skill used in the production of inscriptions which is often taken for granted. Sandwiches were provided for lunch in the pleasant surroundings of the museum garden.
After lunch, the participants were able to start work on their allotted inscriptions. Latin epigraphers were able to use inscriptions from the museum collection while those working on Greek inscriptions used squeezes and photographs to prepare a presentation on their texts. This session allowed the participants to recognise the ambiguities around which the epigrapher must navigate when attempting to understand an inscription. After a break for tea and coffee in the library, the participants gave their presentations to the rest of the group and in some cases were able to offer original insights into possible alternative readings of their inscriptions. The workshop concluded with an opportunity to view some of the material which had been presented.
Speaking as a participant, the workshop was very well organised and of immense value in providing training for postgraduates in the techniques of epigraphy. All of those who attended the workshop to whom I spoke afterwards were eager to use these in their own research. The patience and kindness of Julie Reynolds and the rest of the museum staff during the workshop was much appreciated.
The British Epigraphy Society very gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the individuals and institutions below without which the inaugural Practical Epigraphy Workshop could not have taken place:
Julie Reynolds and the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
The Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, Oxford
Axtell Perry Symm Masonry Ltd, Oxford
Classics in the Subject Centre
Below: impressions from the workshop (courtesy Ryan Wei)
It was a great pleasure to be based at The National Roman Legion Museum. Not only is the the museum well run with friendly, welcoming and helpful staff, but the town of Caerleon is pleasant, relaxing, and rich in history, notably of the Roman period.
The museum has a good collection of Roman inscriptions, especially in terms of range, including material as diverse as an inked writing tablet as well as arguably the finest monumental inscription from Roman Britain. Tombstones form the largest category within the collection. An impressive proportion of the epigraphic material is on display in the museum's excellent exhibition, though for a practical workshop this has its drawbacks as the museum has enjoyed great success in attracting trips by school-children of all ages. The gallery can therefore be busy and noisy (but long may this continue!).
The museum's reserve collection of inscribed materials is kept in a basement, and is well organised. There is a working area adjacent to this, but it is limited in size and cannot comfortably accommodate a group of more than twelve students. Other facilities for study are excellent, and include a small library which can be used for plenary sessions, a laboratory, kitchen area, and flexibility over opening hours.
Of the stones we used for study or for demonstrating practical skills, all could be used again. For those studying Greek epigraphy, we took a selection of squeezes.
Programme
Wednesday
Travel to venue.
DIY tour of Caerleon, the Roman fortress, the Roman Legionary Museum and its epigraphic collections, drawing in the Museum if desired.
16.40-17.00: Participants Register outside front door of museum (inside if raining).
17.00-18.00: Plenary session for workshop participants on drawing, squeezing, and photographing inscriptions (Charles Crowther and Roger Tomlin). Brief talks by CC & RT, rest of time drawing with supervision.
18.00: Richard Grasby: Making the Trajanic marble inscription from Caerleon, RIB 330.
Dinner in a local restaurant.
Thursday
09.00-09.30: Roger Tomlin (Wolfson College, Oxford): Fifty Years of Roman Inscriptions of Britain.
09.30-10.10: Julie Reynolds (Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon): Walking tour of the epigraphic collection at Caerleon.
10.10-10.30: Charles Crowther (CSAD, Oxford): working in Greek Museums.
10.30-11.00: tea / coffee & biscuits in library.
11.00-12.00: hands-on practical session (measuring, squeeze-making, drawing). Continued after lunch.
12.00-13.00: Richard Grasby: Demonstration of letter-cutting.
13.00-14.00: sandwich lunch
14.00-15.30: further supervised practical session, focussing on prepared texts.
15.30-16.00: tea / coffee & cake in library.
16.00-17.30: presentations by participants
17.30-18.00: close.
Review by Jonathan Eaton, Queen's University Belfast
There can be few more appropriate sites for an epigraphy workshop than the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon with its fascinating collection of inscriptions. The Practical Epigraphy workshop was attended by fourteen postgraduate students from as far a-field as Belfast, Durham, Edinburgh and Exeter, as well as Oxford, Cambridge and London. Eight of the postgraduates specialised in Greek epigraphy while the remainder were interested in Latin epigraphy. Each participant had been given at least one inscription to work with during the workshop and had been notified of this before the course began in order to carry out preliminary research before arriving in Caerleon.
The workshop began in the late afternoon of 27th June with a plenary session on the basic practical techniques of epigraphy. Charles Crowther and Graham Oliver demonstrated the art of squeezing using inscriptions from the museum collection. Roger Tomlin gave an informative talk on the methods he used in the field to record Roman inscriptions in Britain which allowed the participants to understand the practical uses of the techniques which had been demonstrated. In the evening Richard Grasby gave a lecture entitled Making the Trajanic marble inscription from Caerleon RIB 330 which was also well attended by members of the general public. This lecture was particularly valuable in demonstrating how the modern restoration or replication of inscriptions can provide clues as to the methods and personal quirks of the original letter cutter. The evening ended with a meal in a local Indian restaurant.
The following day commenced with a slideshow by Roger Tomlin on Fifty Years of Roman Inscriptions of Britain, which described both the history of this on-going project and the variety of the inscriptions which have been examined as well as some of the more obscure places where such material appears! This was followed by a walking tour of the epigraphic collection on display in the museum led by the curator, Julie Reynolds. Several of the more intriguing inscriptions were discussed in the course of this tour and the detective work which has gone into understanding the relationship between different funerary epitaphs in the collection was highlighted. After a brief break for tea and coffee in the museum library, the participants were able to continue making squeezes using inscriptions from the museum as well as practising their drawing skills. The participants then enjoyed a demonstration of letter-cutting by Richard Grasby which illustrated the various techniques used in the production of inscriptions. A few lucky volunteers were able to have a go at cutting their own letters on stone with Richard's generous encouragement. This was certainly a once in a lifetime experience and demonstrated the skill used in the production of inscriptions which is often taken for granted. Sandwiches were provided for lunch in the pleasant surroundings of the museum garden.
After lunch, the participants were able to start work on their allotted inscriptions. Latin epigraphers were able to use inscriptions from the museum collection while those working on Greek inscriptions used squeezes and photographs to prepare a presentation on their texts. This session allowed the participants to recognise the ambiguities around which the epigrapher must navigate when attempting to understand an inscription. After a break for tea and coffee in the library, the participants gave their presentations to the rest of the group and in some cases were able to offer original insights into possible alternative readings of their inscriptions. The workshop concluded with an opportunity to view some of the material which had been presented.
Speaking as a participant, the workshop was very well organised and of immense value in providing training for postgraduates in the techniques of epigraphy. All of those who attended the workshop to whom I spoke afterwards were eager to use these in their own research. The patience and kindness of Julie Reynolds and the rest of the museum staff during the workshop was much appreciated.
The British Epigraphy Society very gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the individuals and institutions below without which the inaugural Practical Epigraphy Workshop could not have taken place:
Julie Reynolds and the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
The Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, Oxford
Axtell Perry Symm Masonry Ltd, Oxford
Classics in the Subject Centre
Below: impressions from the workshop (courtesy Ryan Wei)