Natasha Harlow
Natasha Harlow: Profile
I completed my doctoral thesis at the University of Nottingham in 2018, funded by the AHRC and the Midlands3Cities Doctoral Training Partnership. I also work as a freelance museum archaeologist and oral historian. I previously attained a BA (Hons) in Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History and an MA in Cultural Heritage at the University of East Anglia.
My professional career, including a strong museums background and work with Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) data, has given me an understanding of the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the collection and interpretation of small finds. Working with local archaeological groups has provided me with an excellent knowledge of regional material culture. I have also volunteered with the PASt Explorers and Nottingham Young Archaeologists' Club, as well as running schools' outreach in Norfolk and Nottinghamshire.
I take an active role in fieldwalking, excavation and finds processing at the civitas capital of Venta Icenorum (Caistor St Edmund) with the Caistor Roman Project (CRP) over the past ten years. Since 2010, I have been investigating the 1929-35 excavations of Donald Atkinson at Caistor, in partnership with Norfolk Museums Service (NMS) and CRP.
Oral history interviews are another project which I have been carrying out over the past several years with key figures in the archaeology of Norfolk. I have extended this to explore the personal stories, opinions and behaviour of metal-detectorists, who play an important role in recovering many of the objects in my study.
PhD Abstract: “Belonging and Belongings: Portable Artefacts and Identity in the Civitas of the Iceni”
The Late Iron Age in northern East Anglia ends with the Boudican revolt in 60/61 CE, after which, the people known as the Iceni were subsumed by the Roman empire. This thesis tests the archaeological evidence for the Iceni as a defined group, demonstrated by the distinctive character material culture in the region. It investigates the theory that they were slow to adopt Roman imports and luxury goods, either as a form of deliberate resistance or due to cultural retardation following the Boudican revolt. It also questions the interpretive narrative of the Iceni as ‘Other’, in both Classical and modern sources.
My research expands upon previous studies, which have often been restricted to a single county, time period, or class of artefact. It includes a broad study of the three counties most closely associated with the Iceni: Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The chronological range (circa 100 BCE-200 CE) incorporates the Claudian invasion, Boudican rebellion and several generations either side. A large dataset of over 14,000 object records has been examined, drawn from county Historic Environment Records (HERs) and the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). This project reassesses many of the long-held stereotypes about the Iceni in the light of the dramatic increases in metal-detector finds over the past 20 years.
My thesis demonstrates that:
• A single unified social entity (‘the Iceni’) is not archaeologically visible across the study area, although there is intra-regional patterning.
• Iron Age modes of expressing status and identity persisted under Roman rule, through the manufacture, use and display of objects.
• Evidence is lacking for regional impoverishment and depopulation in the aftermath of the Boudican revolt.
• Metal-detected surface finds have significant research potential when viewed across a wide area and in conjunction with stratified sites.
Supervisors: Dr Will Bowden (University of Nottingham) and Prof Colin Haselgrove (University of Leicester)
I completed my doctoral thesis at the University of Nottingham in 2018, funded by the AHRC and the Midlands3Cities Doctoral Training Partnership. I also work as a freelance museum archaeologist and oral historian. I previously attained a BA (Hons) in Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History and an MA in Cultural Heritage at the University of East Anglia.
My professional career, including a strong museums background and work with Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) data, has given me an understanding of the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the collection and interpretation of small finds. Working with local archaeological groups has provided me with an excellent knowledge of regional material culture. I have also volunteered with the PASt Explorers and Nottingham Young Archaeologists' Club, as well as running schools' outreach in Norfolk and Nottinghamshire.
I take an active role in fieldwalking, excavation and finds processing at the civitas capital of Venta Icenorum (Caistor St Edmund) with the Caistor Roman Project (CRP) over the past ten years. Since 2010, I have been investigating the 1929-35 excavations of Donald Atkinson at Caistor, in partnership with Norfolk Museums Service (NMS) and CRP.
Oral history interviews are another project which I have been carrying out over the past several years with key figures in the archaeology of Norfolk. I have extended this to explore the personal stories, opinions and behaviour of metal-detectorists, who play an important role in recovering many of the objects in my study.
PhD Abstract: “Belonging and Belongings: Portable Artefacts and Identity in the Civitas of the Iceni”
The Late Iron Age in northern East Anglia ends with the Boudican revolt in 60/61 CE, after which, the people known as the Iceni were subsumed by the Roman empire. This thesis tests the archaeological evidence for the Iceni as a defined group, demonstrated by the distinctive character material culture in the region. It investigates the theory that they were slow to adopt Roman imports and luxury goods, either as a form of deliberate resistance or due to cultural retardation following the Boudican revolt. It also questions the interpretive narrative of the Iceni as ‘Other’, in both Classical and modern sources.
My research expands upon previous studies, which have often been restricted to a single county, time period, or class of artefact. It includes a broad study of the three counties most closely associated with the Iceni: Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The chronological range (circa 100 BCE-200 CE) incorporates the Claudian invasion, Boudican rebellion and several generations either side. A large dataset of over 14,000 object records has been examined, drawn from county Historic Environment Records (HERs) and the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). This project reassesses many of the long-held stereotypes about the Iceni in the light of the dramatic increases in metal-detector finds over the past 20 years.
My thesis demonstrates that:
• A single unified social entity (‘the Iceni’) is not archaeologically visible across the study area, although there is intra-regional patterning.
• Iron Age modes of expressing status and identity persisted under Roman rule, through the manufacture, use and display of objects.
• Evidence is lacking for regional impoverishment and depopulation in the aftermath of the Boudican revolt.
• Metal-detected surface finds have significant research potential when viewed across a wide area and in conjunction with stratified sites.
Supervisors: Dr Will Bowden (University of Nottingham) and Prof Colin Haselgrove (University of Leicester)
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Papers by Natasha Harlow
Harlow, N., (2018). Resistance is Useless! Culture, Status, and Power in the Civitas Icenorum. Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal. 1(1), p.4. DOI: http://doi.org/10.16995/traj.350
I find myself working across several boundaries: physical lines on the county map of Britain; multidisciplinary in terms of subject specialisms, journals and conference themes; practical and methodological divisions between academic, museum and field archaeologists, and between archaeologists and metal-detectorists; regional and national variations in recording rates and practices for small finds in the county-based Historic Environment Records and the Portable Antiquities Scheme’s database; as well as the distinctions between the prehistoric and historical periods bridging the BC-AD gap.
This paper explores how these perceived differences can be rationalised to create a more rounded regional study of portable artefacts, and how working together “Across the Great Divide” can be a productive means of gaining new perspectives and building on the strengths of all the above elements. Boundaries therefore become less about marking differences and more about connecting points of contact, meeting places and nexuses for the exchange of ideas.
Keywords: Late Iron Age, Early Roman, East of England, Small finds
19th-21st May, with career development workshop on the 22nd May.
Email: [email protected]
Register at: http://shop.le.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=1&deptid=7&catid=711&prodid=4592
Cet avec plaisir que nous annonçons, en collaboration avec l’université de Birmingham et l’université de Nottingham, le XIXème congrès sur l’âge du fer pour étudiants-chercheurs (IARSS), ayant lieu à l’université de Leicester du 19 au 22 mai, 2016.
We are particularly inviting speakers examining topics around monumentality and social boundaries, terminologies (interpretation and development), archaeological landscapes, production and technologies (esp. metalworking), communities in transition and mortuary studies to complement to the papers already accepted.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We are pleased to announce that, in partnership with the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham, the 19th Iron Age Research Student Symposium (IARSS) will be held at the University of Leicester between the 19th and 22nd of May 2016.
IARSS is a research student focused conference, designed to serve as a platform for new researchers to share their projects and collaborate with others. As such we are seeking contributions from colleagues currently undertaking research based Masters Degrees, PhDs or Post-doctoral projects. Although IARSS is advertised as being for Iron Age researchers, contributions from those colleagues examining closely related or overlapping periods, such as the Late Bronze Age, are also welcome. In addition to papers which examine aspects of the British Iron Age, we would also like to encourage submissions from colleagues examining the Iron Age in other regions of the world, including but not limited to, Ireland, continental Europe and the Near East.
For those colleagues who wish to be considered to present a paper at IARSS 2016, please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words outlining the background and themes of your research. Please also include 5 key words, separately, that relate to your research.
Abstracts should be sent to:
[email protected]
The closing date for submissions is the 29th February 2016
Book Reviews by Natasha Harlow
Books by Natasha Harlow
Conference Presentations by Natasha Harlow
Short (up to 10 minutes) discussion papers are sought for the above session which will take the format of a panel discussion, typically a half-day block with a panel of up to 6 people, each giving short position papers, and then open discussion with a moderator.
Please submit your abstract of circa 200 words, including discussion panel topic, your name, title, affiliation and email address to session organisers [email protected] [email protected] and [email protected] by Friday 15 October 2023.
Harlow, N., (2018). Resistance is Useless! Culture, Status, and Power in the Civitas Icenorum. Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal. 1(1), p.4. DOI: http://doi.org/10.16995/traj.350
I find myself working across several boundaries: physical lines on the county map of Britain; multidisciplinary in terms of subject specialisms, journals and conference themes; practical and methodological divisions between academic, museum and field archaeologists, and between archaeologists and metal-detectorists; regional and national variations in recording rates and practices for small finds in the county-based Historic Environment Records and the Portable Antiquities Scheme’s database; as well as the distinctions between the prehistoric and historical periods bridging the BC-AD gap.
This paper explores how these perceived differences can be rationalised to create a more rounded regional study of portable artefacts, and how working together “Across the Great Divide” can be a productive means of gaining new perspectives and building on the strengths of all the above elements. Boundaries therefore become less about marking differences and more about connecting points of contact, meeting places and nexuses for the exchange of ideas.
Keywords: Late Iron Age, Early Roman, East of England, Small finds
19th-21st May, with career development workshop on the 22nd May.
Email: [email protected]
Register at: http://shop.le.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=1&deptid=7&catid=711&prodid=4592
Cet avec plaisir que nous annonçons, en collaboration avec l’université de Birmingham et l’université de Nottingham, le XIXème congrès sur l’âge du fer pour étudiants-chercheurs (IARSS), ayant lieu à l’université de Leicester du 19 au 22 mai, 2016.
We are particularly inviting speakers examining topics around monumentality and social boundaries, terminologies (interpretation and development), archaeological landscapes, production and technologies (esp. metalworking), communities in transition and mortuary studies to complement to the papers already accepted.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We are pleased to announce that, in partnership with the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham, the 19th Iron Age Research Student Symposium (IARSS) will be held at the University of Leicester between the 19th and 22nd of May 2016.
IARSS is a research student focused conference, designed to serve as a platform for new researchers to share their projects and collaborate with others. As such we are seeking contributions from colleagues currently undertaking research based Masters Degrees, PhDs or Post-doctoral projects. Although IARSS is advertised as being for Iron Age researchers, contributions from those colleagues examining closely related or overlapping periods, such as the Late Bronze Age, are also welcome. In addition to papers which examine aspects of the British Iron Age, we would also like to encourage submissions from colleagues examining the Iron Age in other regions of the world, including but not limited to, Ireland, continental Europe and the Near East.
For those colleagues who wish to be considered to present a paper at IARSS 2016, please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words outlining the background and themes of your research. Please also include 5 key words, separately, that relate to your research.
Abstracts should be sent to:
[email protected]
The closing date for submissions is the 29th February 2016
Short (up to 10 minutes) discussion papers are sought for the above session which will take the format of a panel discussion, typically a half-day block with a panel of up to 6 people, each giving short position papers, and then open discussion with a moderator.
Please submit your abstract of circa 200 words, including discussion panel topic, your name, title, affiliation and email address to session organisers [email protected] [email protected] and [email protected] by Friday 15 October 2023.