A History of the Congress of Roman Frontier Studies 1949-2022: A Retrospective to Mark the 25th Congress in Nijmegen

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In 1949, in the aftermath of a devastating war, Eric Birley organised the First Congress of Roman Frontier Studies. His aim was not only to pursue the study of Roman frontiers but also to take a step towards restoring harmony in international relations within this field of research. The pattern was set early on: the exchange of information, networking and friendship. These three elements remain at the core of the approach of those organising and attending the Congress. They are reinforced by the pattern of the meetings, usually held every three years. The programme includes not only lectures but also visits to the local Roman military sites led by appropriate specialists. Over the 73 years since the First Congress, membership has grown enormously with more lecture theatres and more coaches being required every meeting. This publication marks the twenty-fifth Congress at Nijmegen in the Netherlands, a city well known to Roman frontier archaeologists and early medieval scholars alike. It aims to help newer members understand the body they have joined; for those who have been attending for longer, it will be a reminder of friendships made and strengthened; for all, the book hopes to be a spur to continuing investigations and research into Rome's greatest monument, its frontiers; for the moment of publication, it will be a celebration of the twenty-fifth Congress of Roman Frontier Studies. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Page List of figures Figure 1. Map of the provinces and frontiers of the Roman Empire in the mid 2nd century AD (produced for the Frontiers of the Roman Empire EU Culture 2000 project) Figure 2. The 1929 excavations at Birdoswald, from left to right, John Charlton, Eric Birley, Mr Hunter a student, F. G. Simpson, Mr Addison a student, Kurt Stade, Shimon Applebaum, R. G. Collingwood. Ian Richmond took the photograph Figure 3. Participants at the Sixth International Congress of Archaeology relax in a beer garden in Berlin: Andreas Alföldi turning to his right with behind him and to the right seated Eric Birley and Howard Comfort with the bow tie Figure 4. Table of attendance at the Congresses Figure 5. Map of the locations of the Congresses Figure 6. Covers of some of the Congress proceedings Figure 7. Eric Birley with his wife Peggy and John Gillam (far left) and Brenda Swinbank (later Heywood, far right) Figure 8. The participants in the First Congress at Newcastle (1949) with partners. Seated on the ground from the left: Howard Comfort (?), Willem Glasbergen, Elisabeth Ettlinger, Barbara Birley, Eric Birley, Ian Richmond, Andreas Alföldi, unknown, Franz Figure 9. Anne Robertson, first female speaker at the Limes Congress (© The Herald (Glasgow) Figure 10. Guda van Giffen-Duyvis and Albert Egges van Giffen in 1949 at the Congress Figure 11. Congress participants visiting an archaeological site, including from the left Rudolf Laur-Belert, unknown, Colonel Jean Baradez, Antonio Frova, Guda van Giffen-Duyvis, Andreas Alföldi, Willem Glasbergen, Hans Norling-Christensen and possibly Figure 12. The museum at Augst (Augusta Raurica) – newly created in the 1950s Figure 13. The museum at Augst (Augusta Raurica) – newly created in the 1950s Figure 14. Four Congress stalwarts on the 1959 Pilgrimage of Hadrian’s Wall: John Gillam, C.E. Stevens, Tony Birley and Jean Baradez with Thomas Hepple, Ministry foreman, second from the right Figure 15. Sirmium, visited in 1961... Figure 16. Group photo of participants during the visit to Ptuj Figure 17. The Evangelical Academy in Arnoldshain. Figure 18. Telegram from Prof Emil Condurachi from Bucharest asking for an entrance visa. Figure 19. Albert van Giffen (with the back to the camera) talking to Maurice Euzennat(?). Behind them is Arend Hubrecht, who would later become director of Kam Museum in Nijmegen Figure 20. Communication at Arnoldshain was by letter and telegram (see Figure 18), though press interest was the same as today. On the newspaper cutting, from the left, are Professor Schütte and Erik Birley with Hans Schönberger behind Figure 21. Schönberger’s hand-written copy of the repeatedly changed and supplemented Arnolshain lecture program Figure 22. Mordechai Gichon’s formal invitation letter to host the next Congress in Tel Aviv. Figure 23. The ‘high table’ at the Congress in Tel Aviv. From the left, unknown, Jules Bogaers, unknown, Rudolf Laur-Belart, unknown, C.E.Stevens, Mordechai Gichon Figure 24. Congress participants attending a lecture in Israel in 1967 (note the smoking in the auditorium). Among those present were: left of the aisle, second row, Barri Jones; right of the aisle, second row, second Hans Schönberger, third John Gillam; Figure 25. The visit to the fort at Brecon Gaer during the Welsh Congress. John Mann is to the left holding paper, Harald von Petrikovits to the right Figure 26. Visiting the excavations at Usk in South Wales Figure 27. The paddle steamer Decebal passed on the Danube Figure 28. The late Roman fort at Cappidava Figure 29. Congress participants on a ferry to visit Dinogetia Figure 30. Jules Bogaers, one of the organisers of the 1974 congress Figure 31. Visiting an excavation at Xanten (note the attire) Figure 32. Harald von Petrikovits examining a section at Haltern in 1974 Figure 33. Participants returning to the hotel ship moored at Xanten Figure 34. The Congress welcomed to the G.M. Kam Museum in Nijmegen by Arend Hubrecht Figure 35. Names of people identified in Figure 34 Figure 36. Epigraphists at work – a relatively common sight at Limes Congresses, Christoph Rugger and Richard Wright on their knees with Donald Moore, leaning on an altar, in the museum at Nijmegen. Figure 37. The fort of Tokod being inspected in 1976 Figure 38. The Valentinianic watch-tower at Steinbruch, Visegrád, with Eric Birley puffing on his pipe Figure 39. Contra Aquincum, now covered over, in Budapest Figure 40. The Heidentor, visited on the pre-Congress tour of 1976 (it was again visited in 1986) Figure 41. David Breeze offering the invitation to hold the next Congress in Scotland at the closing session of the Congress; seated from the left, Andreas Mocsy, Eric Birley and Jenő Fitz Figure 42. Most of the core team for the Stirling Congress, from left, Gordon Maxwell, Stephen Johnson, Bill Hanson, David Breeze and Lawrence Keppie Figure 43. Visit to the watchtower above Fendoch Figure 44. The visit to the fortlet at Duntocher on the Antonine Wall; Anne Robertson used plant pots to mark out the excavation Figure 45. David Breeze explains the bathhouse at Bearsden to the Congress, with the Provost and former Provost to his left Figure 46. Bearsden again, now in German by Brian Dobson Figure 47. John Wilkes’ excavation at the Severan legionary base at Carpow is inspected Figure 48. An attentive audience in Aalen, 1983. Fourth row, from the left, Géza Alföldy, Michael Speidel, Sonja Jilek, Herma Stiglitz; fifth row, second from left, Klára Póczy; to the right, third row back, Margaret Roxan, Valerie Maxfield and Willy Groe Figure 49. Sheet music of the ‘March of Ala Flavia II’ composed and premiered especially for the Congress by the Miners’ Band from Wasseralfingen Figure 50. The timber tower at Mahdholz recently created, one of the many treats provided by the Denkmalpflege in Baden-Württemberg Figure 51. Margot Klee explains the fortlet at Welzheim, Röthelsee to the Congress Figure 52. The late Roman fort at Zurzach in the rain visited on the pre-Congress excursion Figure 53. Mordechai Gichon and C. Sebastian Sommer in Aalen Figure 54. Hermann Vetters (left) with Eric Birley Figure 55. Guiding by Herma Stiglitz Figure 56. The Roman tower at Tulln Figure 57. Visiting the site of Zeisemauer Figure 58. Guiding by Hannsjörg Ubl Figure 59. A grubenhaus at Bratislava-Dúbrovka, Slovakia Figure 60. Vivien Swan leads the singing at Canterbury in 1989, with Tilmann Bechert at the piano with, left to right, Brian Dobson, David Breeze and Jeff Davies Figure 61. The Roman lighthouse in Dover Figure 62. The late Roman fort at Portchester Castle Figure 63. The Ermine Street Guards on parade Figure 64. Tom Parker gets instructions on ballista from the Ermine Street Guard Figure 65. Peter Guest guiding; Marten de Weerd looking on Figure 66. The participants of the Congress at Rolduck, 1995 Figure 67. The pre-Congress excursion in 1995 included a visit to Kalkreise Figure 68. The post-Congress tour in 1995 explored sites and excavations in Belgium Figure 69. Tongeren in 1995. From left: Gerry Friel; Pete Wilson; Jacqueline Hoevenberg (?) and Tony Wilmott with Mordechai Gichon entering. Figure 70. The forum at Bavay Figure 71. Alexandru Matei explaining his excavation in 1997 Figure 72. Group photo of congress participants from Zalau Congress Figure 73. Walking through the Carpathian Mountains in Romania Figure 74. Relaxing after a long walk: includes Michaela Konrad, Andreas Thiel, Martina Meyr, Bill Hanson & Sonja Jilek Figure 75. The army provided lunch at Porolissum Figure 76. Inside the tent; standing Willem Willems Figure 77. Inspecting an excavation at Alba Iulia on the post-Congress excursion Figure 78. HRH Prince Hassan arrives to welcome the Congress to Jordan. From left, Mrs Sindall, Mr Sindall, Chair of the Council for British Research in the Levant, David Breeze, Siegmar von Schnurbein, HRH Prince Hassan, HRH Princess Sumaya Figure 79. The Congress in Jordan Figure 80. Siegmar von Schnurbein addresses the Congress Figure 81. Colin Wells walks away from Qasr Azraq, originally a Roman fort, much changed in later centuries and the desert headquarters of T E Lawrence (of Arabia) in the First World War (Photo Sonja Jilek) Figure 82. Crossing the desert to visit Qasr Bshir Figure 83. Tom Parker greets the Congress Figure 84. Gabi Rasbach, Andreas Thiel, Kirsten Thiel and Franz Joseph Maier, with Willem Willems in the background at the British Ambassador’s reception Figure 85. Rebecca Jones, Fraser Hunter, Carol Davies and Jeff Davies at the British Ambassador’s reception Figure 86. Mark Steel, Walter and Helen Cockle and Roberta Tomlin at the British Ambassador’s reception Figure 87. David Kennedy, who wrote the handbook for the Congress, centre, with David Breeze and Zsolt Visy Figure 88. Delegates boarding the helicopter for a flight over Amman and Jerash Figure 89. Martina Meyr in the desert Figure 90. Zsolt Visy gets the Congress delegates ready for a group photograph Figure 91. Participants discuss applying for European funding for the Frontiers of the Roman Empire project in a wine cellar at Ilok, Croatia. From left: Angel Morillo; Michael Redde; Sonja Jilek; David Breeze; Andreas Thiel; Egon Schallmayer; Sebastian S Figure 92. Local school children perform a dance for the delegates Figure 93. Visiting the Roman fort at Gerulata on the pre-Congress excursion Figure 94. 80th birthday celebrations for Klára Póczy with a presentation from Orsolya Lang Figure 95. Tony Wilmott and other Congress delegates waving the flags at Leon Figure 96. Eduard Nemeth, Ioana Bogdan Cătăniciu, Felix Marcu and Ovidiu Tentea during a visit to Campa Torres Archaeological and Nature Park Figure 97. The spectacular landscape of the Roman mines at Las Médulas Figure 98. Esperanza Martin and Angel Morillo (both right) explaining Numancia Figure 99. Boris Rankov and Geoff Morley taking the ultimate photo looking up the Tower at A Corunňa Figure 100. David Breeze at the wooden carving of Scotland’s Stone of Destiny in the Council Chamber at A Corunna Figure 101. Matt Symonds on a bus between sites Figure 102. Congress participants at the closing assembly Figure 103. Nick Hodgson at Piercebridge Figure 104. Paul Bidwell explaining Piercebridge (also Tony Wilmott) Figure 105. David Petts explains Binchester Figure 106. Visit to Whitley Castle Figure 107. Visiting the Roman cemetery of Petty Knowes near High Rochester. From left: Máté Szabó; Barry Burnham; Gerda von Bülow; Ioan Piso; Karl Strobel Figure 108. Post-Congress tour at Chesters, from left: Graeme Stobbs, Eduard Nemeth, Tatiana Ivleva, Piotr Dyczek, Zsolt Visy, Nina Willburger Figure 109. Bill Hanson explains the watch-tower of Muir O’Fauld Figure 110. Lyudmil Vagalinski Figure 111. Since the first congress, the study of the relationship between the Roman Empire and people beyond has been constantly on the rise, with Danish scholars being one key group contributing to this growth. From left: Jonas Sigurdsson, Annette Fröh Figure 112. Congress participants relaxing by the Danube after a visit to the Roman fort Dimum Figure 113. Florian Matei-Popescu, George Cupcea, Călin Timoc enjoying lunch at the Ottoman fortress Medzhidy Tabiya; also Raymond Brulet Figure 114. Nicolae Gudea at Medzhidy Tabiya Figure 116. Legio I Italica at Novae (Svishtov) Figure 118. Martin Lemke and Sebastian Sommer by the banks of the Danube at Ruse Figure 119. Sebastian Sommer addresses the Congress Figure 120. The Congress participants gathered at the fort at Eining Figure 121. The ‘Freiburger Truppe’ from Freiburg University at Ingolstadt, including: Bastian Kaiser, Katharina Ramstetter, Francisco José Gómez Blanco, Szilvia Bíró, Alexandra Gram-Koch, Veronika Fischer, Lennart Schönemann, Philipp Lange, Daniel Burger Figure 122. The miniature reconstruction at Ruffenhofen Figure 123. Boat trip on the Danube Figure 124. Markus Gschwind introduces the fort at Eining Figure 125. Some of the Limes ladies at the Kelten Romer Museum at Manching. From left: Marion Brüggler; Szilvia Bíró; Stefania Hoss; Frances McIntosh; Beth Greene; Barbara Birley; Orsolya Lang; Carol van Driel-Murray; Sue Stallibrass; Martina Meyr; Sonja Figure 126. The limes at Zandt: watch-tower 15/15: Paul Franzen, Mark Driessen, Marenne Zandstra and Carol van Driel-Murray marking the posts Figure 127. Walking in a fog to visit the limes at Zandt Figure 128. The high table at the opening ceremony in Belgrade, from left: Andreas Thiel, Rebecca Jones, Sebastian Sommer, David Breeze, Miloje Vasić, Snežana Golubović, Miomir Korać, Stefan Pop-Lazić and Nemanja Mrđić Figure 129. Delegates catching up in Belgrade at the start of the Congress. From left: Veronica Fischer; Sophie Hüdepohl; Erik Timmermann; Ella Hetzel Figure 130. The entrance to the replica Roman fort at Viminacium where the lectures took place Figure 131. Boris Burandt gives a lecture Figure 132. The winner of the debate, Erik Graafstal with to his right David Breeze and Tatiana Ivleva, and to his left Anna Walas: Tatiana and Anna were in charge of counting the votes. Figure 134. The Congress participants at the Roman fort of Diana Figure 133. Visiting the Iron Gates in Serbia. From left: Orsolya Lang; Stefanie Hoss; Tatiana Ivleva; Lara Laken and Martijn Wijnhoven Figure 135. Visiting the late Roman / Byzantine city of Justiniana Prima Figure 136. A reception in the courtyard of the replica Roman villa – the Domus Scientiarum Viminacium Figure 137. Fireworks at the end of the closing session Figure 138. Leaflets and books from the 2003 Congress Figure 139. David Breeze receiving his Festschrift in Newcastle in 2009 Figure 140. The celebration for the launch of Bill Hanson’s Festschrift in Ingolstadt in 2015 Figure 141. Bill Hanson (centre) receiving his Festschrift from two of the editors, Rebecca Jones (left) and David Breeze (right) Figure 142. Carol van Driel-Murray (centre) receiving her Festschrift, from Tatiana Ivleva (left) and Mark Driessen (right) in Viminacium in 2018 Figure 143. Collage of the logos from the Congresses Figure 144. Tom Parker leads the singing on the bus in 2015 Figure 145. Two of the re-enactors greeting Congress participants at Binchester during the 2009 Newcastle Limes Congress Figure 146. Re-enactors dressed as soldiers greet participants at Binchester during the 2009 Newcastle Limes Congress Figure 147. Actors following the ‘fight’ between the Romans and Iron Age people in Viminacium Figure 148. Children doing traditional dances, sometimes in traditional costume, during the congresses in Bulgaria in 2012 (i and ii); and iii) Congress delegates joining in the dancing in Bulgaria Figure 149. The stamped samian bowl from Pecs reading: MMDCCLVI SOPIANAE Figure 150. Bags for delegates for the 2015 Ingolstadt and 2018 Viminacium Congresses Figure 151. Some of the T-shirts spotted at the Congress: i) Simon Sulk in the 2015 Ingolstadt Limes T-shirt with delegates on the pre-Congress excursion sitting on the steps of Walhalla memorial (photo: Deutsche Limeskommission / Simon Sulk); ii) Mihail Figure 152. Proportion of male/female delegates in the last 30 years Figure 153. Gender balance by province Figure 154. Gender balance by topic Figure 155. Baby Ariana accompanying her mother Renate Kurzmann to the Limes Congress in Jordan in 2000 Figure 156. Frontiers of the Roman Empire Culture 2000 partners at their first meeting in Sopron, Hungary, in 2005. Front row, seated, from left: Esperanza Martin Hernandez; Janka Istenic; Piotr Dyczek; Jan Rajtar; Adam Szentgali; standing, from left: Geo Figure 157. Frontiers of the Roman Empire Culture 2000 partners meet with colleagues from the Netherlands at Woerden in 2005, from left: George Findlater, Anton Schabl, Mirjana Sanader, Jurgen Kunow, Jos Bazelmans, Sonja Jansen, Michael Erdrich, Adam Szen Figure 158. Anna Adamczyk, designer of most of the multi-language books, holding the first copy of The Roman Frontier in Egypt by Michel Reddé Figure 159. Erik Dobat and Sandra Walkshofer filming in Bulgaria in 2007 Figure 160. Final workshop of the Advanced Limes Applications project in Landshut, Bavaria in 2019 - over 40 participants from around 10 countries across Europe Figure 161. Building the ‘Danuvia Alacris’ replica ship to row down the Danube in 2022 Figure 162. The UNESCO World Heritage branding outside the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle Figure 163. The UNESCO nomination team for the Danube Limes (western segment) visiting the wall of Regensburg legionary fortress, now incorporated into a multi-storey carpark. From left to right: Markus Gschwind (DE), Katalin Wollák (HU), Zsolt Visy (HU), Figure 164. Hadrian’s Wall visit to the Great Wall of China in 2019 as part of the Wall-to-Wall project. The Hadrian’s Wall delegation included: Tony Wilmott; David Breeze; Charles Smith; Barbara Birley; Rob Collins and David Brough. The Chinese delegatio Figure 165. This book has offered a retrospective view of 24 meetings of the Congress of Roman Frontier Studies prepared for publication at the next Congress, the 25th in the series, at Nijmegen in the Netherlands in August 2022. It is fitting, therefore, Preface Introduction The Sixth International Congress of Archaeology, Berlin 1939 The First Congress, Newcastle, England, UK 1949 The Second Congress, Carnuntum, Austria 1955 The Third Congress, Rheinfelden/Basel, Switzerland 1957 The Fourth Congress, Durham, England, UK 1959 The Fifth Congress, former Yugoslavia 1961 The Sixth Congress, Arnoldshain, Germany 1964 The Seventh Congress, Tel Aviv, Israel 1967 The Eighth Congress, Cardiff, Wales, UK 1969 The Ninth Congress, Mamaïa, Romania 1972 The Tenth Congress, Xanten and Nijmegen, Germany and the Netherlands 1974 The Eleventh Congress, Székesfehérvár, Hungary 1976 The Twelfth Congress, Stirling, Scotland, UK 1979 The Thirteenth Congress, Aalen, Germany 1983 The Fourteenth Congress, Carnuntum, Austria 1986 The Fifteenth Congress, Canterbury, England (UK) 1989 The Sixteenth Congress, Rolduc Abbey, Kerkrade, the Netherlands 1995 The Seventeenth Congress, Zalău, Romania 1997 The Eighteenth Congress, Amman, Jordan 2000 The Nineteenth Congress, Pécs, Hungary 2003 The Twentieth Congress, León, Spain 2006 The Twenty-First Congress, Newcastle, England (UK) 2009 The Twenty-second Congress, Ruse, Bulgaria 2012 The Twenty-third Congress, Ingolstadt, Germany 2015 The Twenty-fourth Congress, Viminacium, Serbia 2018 Reflections on the Congress The structure of the Congress meetings International influences The cycle of meetings The location of Congresses Planning a Congress Special features The logos (Figure 143) The ‘singing’ bus Entertainment: the folk dancing and re-enactors Mementos A retrospective The Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage property Further reading Appendix The frontiers of the Roman Empire multi-language books Acknowledgements Back cover