This selection of twelve papers from the twelfth annual Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference illustrates a broad range of theoretical approaches applied to Roman archaeology today; one trend, though, is apparent: a wider engagement with interdisciplinary research, drawing theoretical ideas from many diverse fields of study, including philosophy, psychology, history of art, and consumer theory.

Contents: Seeking a material turn: The artefactuality of the Roman Empire (Andrew Gardner); An empire in pieces: Roman archaeology and the fragment (Iain Ferris); Restoring ontological security:...

This important book puts forward a new interpretation of Roman decorative art, focusing on the function of decoration in the social context. It examines the three principal areas of social display and conspicuous consumption in the Roman world: social space, entertainment, and dress, and discusses the significance of the decoration of objects and interiors within these contexts, drawing examples from both Rome and its environs, and the Western provinces, from the early Imperial period to Late Antiquity. Focusing on specific examples, including mosaics and other interior decor, silver plate,...

In this book, Ellen Swift uses design theory, previously neglected in Roman archaeology, to investigate Roman artifacts in a new way, making a significant contribution to both Roman social history and our understanding of the relationships that exist between artefacts and people.

Based on extensive data collection and the close study of artefacts from museum collections and archives, the book examines the relationship between artefacts, everyday behavior, and experience. The concept of "affordances"--features of an artefact that make possible, and incline users towards, particular uses...