Historical Archaeology in the Ancient Mediterranean

One Year of Blogging

It has been a little over a year now since I took the plunge and began blogging.  The experience has been very rewarding.  In the last year I have written 189 posts, which averages to about 3.5 posts per week.  There are noticeable highs during the summer field season months with lows coming during Christmas break.  I have had hits from 64 different countries and 47 U.S. states.  Strangely, I have not had a single hit from Montana (I know people in Montana), West Virginia, and Alaska.  The top five states include: 1) Pennsylvania 2) Massachusetts 3) Virginia [again no hits from West Virginia] 4) California 5) Connecticut.  In that time I have met many new colleagues and friends. 

Like Bill Caraher, my former advisor and the individual responsible for making me a blogger, I have asked myself why do I blog?  I have three reasons.  The first reason is strictly personal.  I blog to keep my family and friends up to date on my academic progress and fieldwork.  Second, I hope to demystify the archaeological process (as much as a blog can).  One of the goals of archaeology, in my opinion, is to be as transparent as possible and present data in a way that is accessible to everyone, not just those well-versed in the discipline.  Finally, I provide insight into a graduate program focusing on the ancient world.  I hope to give those interested in graduate school an idea of what to expect.  Now with all that said back to the AIA paper.

I'm Back

Well after wrapping up my last official semester of coursework, celebrating Christmas, supporting my wife while we had our second child, and entertaining family I am back to blogging.  Since we now have an infant and a two year old in the house and plan to move in January, I have complied a short academic to do list for Christmas break.  It includes inking artifact pencil drawings from this summer [provided that I can get my hands on some good drafting film], creating a bibliography for the Roman ceramic references Scott Moore and I compiled this summer, putting the final touches on my AIA paper "The Dedication of Roman Arms and Armor as a Religious Ritual," update the Penn State Study Abroad Website for Greece, and create an outline for a paper on Eastern Sigillata for the Mopsos Survey.  We will see how it goes.

Spring 2009 Courses

Tomorrow marks my last "official" day of coursework.  I have completed all the course requirements for my PhD program.  Next semester I will take courses to prepare for comps and have an opportunity to take a class outside of history and languages.  I will continue to take German and will take an independent study where I will read a selection of Greek and Latin military authors of the Imperial period.  Last but not least I will take a GIS course.  It should be a fun semester.

Glandes Perusinae Final Post

It has been two weeks since I submitted my Glandes Perusinae paper.  Since then I have had time to reflect on the topic.  Below I have provided my introduction and conclusions.  As always thoughts, insights, and constructive criticism is always welcome.

 

Condensed Introduction

 

Throughout antiquity the sling proved an efficient weapon, particularly during sieges.  One interesting phenomenon regarding the use of the sling in antiquity concerns the presence of inscriptions on sling-bullets.  These inscriptions, in relief rather than incised, offer a unique vantage point into ancient warfare and history.  The inscriptions take many forms and range from a single letter to multi-word inscriptions.  One of the many functions of inscribed sling-bullets was to incite violence.  An examination of the available evidence demonstrates a traditional discourse of violence where the central themes to promote violence were personal injury and pain.  The glandes Perusinae represent a unique assemblage that greatly diverges from the traditional discourse.  Rather than inciting violence through personal pain and injury, the inscribed sling-bullets from Perusia incite violence through sex.  

 

Conclusions

 

Based on an examination of sling-bullet inscriptions from the Greek and Roman worlds five categories emerge: names of cities or peoples, personal names, deities, symbols, and commands and exclamations.  Commands and exclamations are particularly interesting because they have the ability to incite violence.  The Greek and Latin evidence outlined above employ a specific set of vocabulary (δέχομαι, λαμβάνω, πάπαι,

 evomo, pereo, and ferio) where the central themes to incite violence are personal injury and pain.  The insults were not directed towards a specific individual but towards whoever encountered the bullet.  

The glandes Perusinae represent an assemblage far different from the traditional discourse of violence.  The inscriptions incite violence with a different set of vocabulary (landica and culus combined with peto, laxo or its adjectival equivalent, sedeo with a phallic image, and culus combined with pando) where the central theme shifts from personal injury and pain to sex.  The insults were directed to specific individuals.  If indeed peto is an accurate rendering for CIL XI.6721.5 and CIL XI.6721.7, the two sling-bullets represent the only evidence, as far as I am aware, of speaking inscriptions on sling-bullets.  The specific targets, use of first person verbs, and the continuous nature of the exchange evidenced by hastily inscribed forms (CIL XI.6721.14) demonstrate Octavian’s attempt to implicate Lucius and Fulvia as the instigators and aggressors of the Perusine War.  Both Octavian and Antony found in Lucius and even more so Fulvia a convenient scapegoat for the Perusine affair.  

Candidacy Exams

Just a quick post today. At about 1:30 today I officially passed my candidacy exams!  Now back to reality, one more paper, 3 more quizzes, and two final exams left for this semester.