Archaeology of Roman Britain, 12

Fragile gods : Pipeclay figurines and related objects in Roman Britain

Fittock, Matthew

Pipeclay objects produced in Gaul and the Rhine-Moselle region, including figurines, busts, shrines, animal vessels and masks, provide a valuable insight into the diverse religious beliefs and practices of the population of Roman Britain. This book provides the first comprehensive catalogue and analysis of the nearly 1000 published and unpublished pipeclay objects now known from Britannia since the late 1970s. Examination of this collection provides a detailed typological, chronological and contextual evaluation of the assemblage that highlights the range of religious practices pipeclay objects were used for, and the culturally mixed groups that used them. A key aspect of this study includes comparing the British collection with Continental assemblages to highlight distinctive regional patterns of consumption and belief between the Roman provinces. Additionally, typological and contextual comparison with metal figurines also highlights subtle but significant differences in the use and function of pipeclay and metal figurines throughout Britain.