Mosaics in Britannia

Stephen R. Cosh

ISBN 10: 1805832336 / ISBN 13: 9781805832331

Published by Archaeopress Mär 2026, 2026

Neuware - Mosaics in Britannia provides an authoritative overview of Romano-British mosaics, including how they were made and maintained, how the craft was organised, the geometric designs and the subject matter, source and significance of the figured pavements. Also considered is the mosaics' place within the buildings they adorned, and what they tell us about the social dynamics of the residence and baths. The book ends with the fate of mosaics in the late Roman period and thereafter, including their recording upon rediscovery and their display. Although Romano-British pictorial mosaics seldom attain the artistic brilliance of those around the Mediterranean, they often have sophisticated content. Several demonstrate a good knowledge of classical literature, arguably more so than most other provinces, which is perhaps surprising to those who have assumed that Roman Britain was a backwater at the extreme edge of the Roman Empire. Seller Inventory # 9781805832331

Synopsis:

Mosaics in Britannia provides an authoritative overview of Romano-British mosaics, including how they were made and maintained, how the craft was organised, the geometric designs and the subject matter, source and significance of the figured pavements. Also considered is the mosaics’ place within the buildings they adorned, and what they tell us about the social dynamics of the residence and baths. The book ends with the fate of mosaics in the late Roman period and thereafter, including their recording upon rediscovery and their display. Although Romano-British pictorial mosaics seldom attain the artistic brilliance of those around the Mediterranean, they often have sophisticated content. Several demonstrate a good knowledge of classical literature, arguably more so than most other provinces, which is perhaps surprising to those who have assumed that Roman Britain was a backwater at the extreme edge of the Roman Empire.

About the Author:

Stephen R. Cosh DLitt FSA is an independent archaeological writer and illustrator specialising in the Roman period. He worked for over thirty-five years with his colleague, David S. Neal, on the research, production and publication of the five-volume corpus of Romano-British mosaics, completed in 2024. He has contributed specialist reports on the mosaics from several sites, including Chedworth, Low Ham, Dewlish and Colliton Park, Dorchester, and the building report for the large villa complex at Eccles, Kent. He has also written articles on a variety of archaeological aspects of Roman Britain in addition to those concerning mosaics, appearing in the proceedings of several county archaeological societies, Britannia, Antiquaries Journal, Mosaic, the Association for Roman Archaeology (ARA) publications, among others. For many years he was secretary, editor and later vice-chairman of ASPROM (the Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics).

Bibliographic Details

Title: Mosaics in Britannia
Publisher: Archaeopress Mär 2026
Publication Date: 2026
Binding: Taschenbuch
Condition: Neu