Excavated from Traprain Law, East Lothian, Scotland, in May 1919, was one of the most spectacular discoveries of Roman silver ever made in Europe - and the biggest hoard of `hacksilver': 23kg, battered, crushed and chopped up. Blame for the destruction has hitherto been laid at the door of `barbarians' but this study changes that view. An international team of scholars has reviewed the hoard's origins and manufacture, its use as elite tableware, its hacking and later reuse. A century of new discoveries and ideas allow fresh conclusions, especially about the hacking. With wide-ranging parallels from across Europe, the authors argue that hacking was a deliberate Roman policy to create bullion at times of economic crisis, turning valued vessels into weights of silver to be used in frontier politics, to pay off groups from beyond the empire, or hire them as mercenaries.

About the Author

Dr Fraser Hunter is Principal Curator of the Iron Age and Roman collections, National Museums Scotland, and presenter of Scotland: Rome's Final Frontier on BBC2.
Dr Annemarie Kaufmann-Heinimann is a researcher at Basel University. Dr Kenneth Painter was Deputy Keeper of the Greek and Roman department of the British Museum.

Reviews

'Traprain Law is one of Scotland's iconic sites. it has not, however, always been treated as befits its status by archaeologists. This book redresses the balance. It is a sumptuous and thoroughly academic account of the Traprain treasure by the leading authorities in the field. ... ' Archaeology Scotland

Book Information
ISBN 9781910682234
Author Fraser Hunter
Format Hardback
Page Count 780
Imprint NMSE - Publishing Ltd
Publisher NMSE - Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 3286g
Dimensions(mm) 280mm * 220mm * 55mm