Cultural value of Canterbury's Roman objects revealed

New insights into how to look at and reveal the meaning of some of the artefacts in Canterbury's Roman museum are revealed in a new book by a University archaeologist.

Professor Ray Laurence's book, titled Roman Archaeology for Historians, is aimed at strengthening the links between history and archaeology to gain a better understanding of the past.

It includes a chapter that shows the reader how to look at and reveal the meaning of objects on display at the Canterbury Roman Museum.

Professor Laurence, of the University's School of European Culture and Languages, set up the Heritage and Innovation Network at Kent (THINK) two years ago, which links around 70 staff at the University with the county’s museum-based heritage community.

He's also established an internship programme for his students which involves them working in museums in East Kent and the English Heritage backed Alliance to Reduce Crime against Heritage.

He said: 'Historians need to understand archaeology, and that, if we wish to reach into the distant past, written records alone will not suffice.

'This book is all about showing that it is important for archaeologists, classicists and Roman historians to work together to gain a better understanding of our Roman past.'

Roman Archaeology for Historians was published by Routledge in June 2012.

Contact: pressoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 12:13pm 28 June 2012