Page 86 - Hrobat Virloget, Katja, et al., eds. (2015). Stone narratives: heritage, mobility, performance. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 86
stone narratives
regardless of the evidence and information available from the site itself. Rather, they are in-
tended as suggestions for themes that could potentially be explored to extend the scope of
interpretation beyond the basic information about the site and the objects and structures
found at it. Selection of which themes might be most suitable to explore at a particular site
will depend on the evidence available, the site history, location, facilities, relationship to
other sites etc. Interpretation at any one site is likely to cover a mix of themes.
Whilst the Interpretation Framework emphasises the opportunities available through
the use of objects to illustrate narratives, good interpretation and good display recognises
that objects can also speak for themselves – it is all a question of balance. The new display
of the remarkable series of milestones from the Antonine Wall at the Hunterian Museum
in Glasgow illustrates eloquently how effective such an approach can be. Similarly, and al-
though a replica, the sculpture
of a Roman cavalryman riding down a barbarian is a bold and striking image that set
the tone for the whole Roman Frontier Gallery and needs no further explanation (see be-
low).
The core interpretation concept that emerged through an extensive consultation pro-
cess with stakeholders across Hadrian’s Wall is:
Hadrian’s Wall is at the centre of the dynamic story of the north-west Frontier of the Roman
Empire. This frontier evolved from the first to the fifth centuries AD in response to changing
political, social, economic and demographic forces within the Roman Empire, and the changing
role and status of Britain as an Imperial Province. The heavily militarised frontier zone has left
a rich physical legacy through which we can explore its story and understand its resonance with
the modern world (Adkins & Mills, 2011, p.30; Mills & Adkins, 2013, p. 176).
This concept moves the emphasis from the stone monument of Hadrian’s Wall itself
to understanding the frontier as a whole, its development and its evolution over 400 years.
Interpretation can become dynamic, rather than fossilised in the physical elements of con-
struction. It can explore the processes that led to the creation of the frontier and affected its
later functioning, understanding it in relationship to the Empire as a whole, its legacies and
its resonances with the modern world.
The themes through which this concept might be explored and that emerged through
the consultation process were proposed as:
People of the Empire – the multicultural nature of the Empire, Citizenship, language,
identity and culture Frontier lives – daily life of people in the forts and settlements across the
frontierandpersonalstoriesasrevealedbyinscriptions,writingtablets,documentsandgraffiti
Edge of Empire – Hadrian’s Wall as part of the frontier ring around the Empire, inside and
outside the Empire, trade & exchange Britain, a Roman Province – the Roman occupation
of Britain, across the Empire, governance, economic returns from the Province to the Em-
pire The Roman Army – organisation, recruitment, training, equipment, tactics, roles, sup-
ply, communications Before and after – the impact and legacy of Rome and the frontier, on
people and culture Power and control – the concept of a frontier, the projection of Imperial
power, the tensions and conflict associated with borders, UNESCO principles The Frontier
and its environment – influence of landscape on the frontier, environment in Roman times,
impact of the frontier on the landscape, legacy in the landscape Exploration, discovery and
84
regardless of the evidence and information available from the site itself. Rather, they are in-
tended as suggestions for themes that could potentially be explored to extend the scope of
interpretation beyond the basic information about the site and the objects and structures
found at it. Selection of which themes might be most suitable to explore at a particular site
will depend on the evidence available, the site history, location, facilities, relationship to
other sites etc. Interpretation at any one site is likely to cover a mix of themes.
Whilst the Interpretation Framework emphasises the opportunities available through
the use of objects to illustrate narratives, good interpretation and good display recognises
that objects can also speak for themselves – it is all a question of balance. The new display
of the remarkable series of milestones from the Antonine Wall at the Hunterian Museum
in Glasgow illustrates eloquently how effective such an approach can be. Similarly, and al-
though a replica, the sculpture
of a Roman cavalryman riding down a barbarian is a bold and striking image that set
the tone for the whole Roman Frontier Gallery and needs no further explanation (see be-
low).
The core interpretation concept that emerged through an extensive consultation pro-
cess with stakeholders across Hadrian’s Wall is:
Hadrian’s Wall is at the centre of the dynamic story of the north-west Frontier of the Roman
Empire. This frontier evolved from the first to the fifth centuries AD in response to changing
political, social, economic and demographic forces within the Roman Empire, and the changing
role and status of Britain as an Imperial Province. The heavily militarised frontier zone has left
a rich physical legacy through which we can explore its story and understand its resonance with
the modern world (Adkins & Mills, 2011, p.30; Mills & Adkins, 2013, p. 176).
This concept moves the emphasis from the stone monument of Hadrian’s Wall itself
to understanding the frontier as a whole, its development and its evolution over 400 years.
Interpretation can become dynamic, rather than fossilised in the physical elements of con-
struction. It can explore the processes that led to the creation of the frontier and affected its
later functioning, understanding it in relationship to the Empire as a whole, its legacies and
its resonances with the modern world.
The themes through which this concept might be explored and that emerged through
the consultation process were proposed as:
People of the Empire – the multicultural nature of the Empire, Citizenship, language,
identity and culture Frontier lives – daily life of people in the forts and settlements across the
frontierandpersonalstoriesasrevealedbyinscriptions,writingtablets,documentsandgraffiti
Edge of Empire – Hadrian’s Wall as part of the frontier ring around the Empire, inside and
outside the Empire, trade & exchange Britain, a Roman Province – the Roman occupation
of Britain, across the Empire, governance, economic returns from the Province to the Em-
pire The Roman Army – organisation, recruitment, training, equipment, tactics, roles, sup-
ply, communications Before and after – the impact and legacy of Rome and the frontier, on
people and culture Power and control – the concept of a frontier, the projection of Imperial
power, the tensions and conflict associated with borders, UNESCO principles The Frontier
and its environment – influence of landscape on the frontier, environment in Roman times,
impact of the frontier on the landscape, legacy in the landscape Exploration, discovery and
84
