Rural Baths in Roman Britain

a Colonisation of the Senses

Savani, Giacomo

This book explores the function and socio-cultural significance of rural bathhouses, seeking to redefine our understanding of the relationships between these buildings and the identities of the communities residing in the countryside of Roman Britain.
The popularity of baths in antiquity and their archaeological distinctiveness have led both antiquarians and many modern scholars to take their function—and, more crucially, their socio-cultural significance—for granted, which is especially pronounced in the provincial context of Roman Britain. By applying the theoretical framework of sensory archaeology, Savani examines issues of receptivity, social acceptance, and cultural interaction, broadening our understanding of the cultural and social transformations occurring in the province. Focusing on two regions – South-East and Central South-West England – Savani uncovers the previously underappreciated role of rural baths in connecting a more diverse range of people than has been traditionally acknowledged. It also underscores the critical importance of sensory experience in the acceptance of bathing practices in rural areas and the affective connections formed by various social groups around these practices.
Rural Baths in Roman Britain is an invaluable resource for scholars of both the archaeology and culture of Roman Britain, as well as those working on processes of cultural interactions within the Roman provinces more broadly.