Books by Lynne Lancaster
This book studies six vaulting techniques employed in architecture outside of Rome and asks why t... more This book studies six vaulting techniques employed in architecture outside of Rome and asks why they were invented where they were and how they were disseminated. Most of the techniques involve terracotta elements in various forms, such as regular flat bricks, hollow voussoirs, vaulting tubes, and armchair voussoirs. Each one is traced geographically via GIS mapping, the results of which are analyzed in relation to chronology, geography, and historical context. The most common building type in which the techniques appear is the bath, demonstrating its importance as a catalyst for technological innovation. This book also explores trade networks, the pottery industry, and military movements in relation to building construction, revealing how architectural innovation was influenced by wide-ranging cultural factors, many of which stemmed from local influences rather than imperial intervention.
Concrete Vaulted Construction in Imperial Rome examines the methods and techniques that enabled b... more Concrete Vaulted Construction in Imperial Rome examines the methods and techniques that enabled builders to construct some of the most imposing monuments of ancient Rome. Focusing on structurally innovative vaulting and the factors that influenced its advancement, Lynne Lancaster also explores a range of related practices, including lightweight pumice as aggregate, amphoras in vaults, vaulting ribs, metal tie bars, and various techniques of buttressing. She provides the geological background of the local building stones and applies mineralogical analysis to determine material provenance, which in turn relates to trading patterns and land use. Lancaster also examines construction techniques in relation to the social, economic, and political contexts of Rome, in an effort to draw connections between changes in the building industry and the events that shaped Roman society from the early empire to late antiquity.
Articles by Lynne Lancaster
Journal of Ancient Architecture Vol. 3, 2024
Much attention has recently been paid in the media to "the riddle of Roman concrete." It stems fr... more Much attention has recently been paid in the media to "the riddle of Roman concrete." It stems from an MIT news bulletin titled "Riddle Solved: Why Was Roman Concrete So Durable?" The answer proposed by the authors of the MIT study was that Roman concrete was made by hot mixing the mortar. They argued that the heat generated created a "self-healing" mortar, which accounts for the durability of Roman concrete. Their proposal was based on the analysis of ancient mortar samples taken from the second-century BCE city wall of the Roman town of Privernum in Italy. This article, however, argues that the evidence for hot mixing in Roman times is slim and that design is a critical factor behind the durability of Roman concrete structures. It also examines the notion of a "secret" lost recipe for making Roman mortar and shows that it is a myth, which was promulgated in the eighteenth century and used by inventors to draw attention to their work. Finally, an examination of the methodology used to select and analyze the Privernum samples reveals serious flaws. The MIT researchers ended with experiments of adding quicklime to Portland cement mixes to create a modern self-healing concrete, the results of which are marketed by a company, DMAT, established by two of the article's six authors. Ultimately, the project was less about the ancient mortar samples and more about testing the hypothesis for creating a new product.
“Technology”. In Barbara Burrell (ed.) A Companion to the Archaeology of the Roman Empire (Blackwell, 2024): 156-176
In Barbara Burrell (ed.) A Companion to the Archaeology of the Roman Empire (Blackwell), 2024
The study of technology during the Roman period has had a contentious history. For much of the tw... more The study of technology during the Roman period has had a contentious history. For much of the twentieth century Roman technology was described as "stagnant" or as having a "technological blockage," although that has now begun to change. One goal of the present chapter is to examine how this view came to be and in doing so to dissect the methodological pitfalls and the clash of disciplines that that led to it. Another goal is to provide examples of how more recent studies of technology are being reframed to create new questions. Technological
development has often been characterized as the creation of new devices to accomplish particular goals more efficiently, but it can also include innovative advances made through the reorganization of work practices and through the combination of existing technologies. The latter was an area in which Roman entrepreneurs and craftsmen were particularly adept. The Romans inherited much from the Hellenistic Greeks, who had made great advances in various branches of technology during the "scientific revolution" of the third century BCE. The Roman contribution often lay in new applications of earlier Greek discoveries and inventions. The study of technology has been closely linked with the ancient economy, which was based on agricultural production, a largely rural activity. Nevertheless, urban centers formed the nodes of the networks that allowed the Roman
imperial economy to function as it did. Rome famously used the curial class as a means to bring conquered territories into the fold by cultivating existing cities and creating new colonies. These cities played a seminal role in the redistribution of agricultural products, so there was an intimate relationship between the two. In determining the necessarily limited range of topics to discuss here, I have tried to choose ones that reflect both rural and urban aspects of the role of technology in the formation of the empire.
Ingrid D. Rowland and Sinclair W. Bell (eds.) Brill's Companion to the Reception of Vitruvius. (Brill: Leiden/Boston): , 2024
and commentary in 1909, 2 but it is mostly prescriptive. Pierre Gros's introduction to Book 2 in ... more and commentary in 1909, 2 but it is mostly prescriptive. Pierre Gros's introduction to Book 2 in the Budé series of French translations is one of the best interpretive discussions of Vitruvius's construction advice. 3 Other bits of analysis appear in the commentaries of other volumes in this French series as well as in the massive two-volume Italian translation and commentary by Antonio Corso and Elisa Romano. 4 The English translation and commentary of Ingrid Rowland and Thomas Noble Howe, a collaboration between the translator (Rowland) and an architect (Howe), is accompanied by a wealth of illustrations and provides a much needed update to Frank Granger's 1931 translation in the Loeb series. 5 In a separate article, Rowland examines Vitruvius' attitude to technology in general where she notes, "His real admiration lay elsewhere, and he makes no secret about it." 6 This applies equally well to his treatment of construction. AUTHORIAL ASPIRATIONS-STATED AND IMPLIED Vitruvius wrote De architectura with an intended audience. It is a work of literature with internal themes and narrative arcs. Only by analyzing his construction guidelines within this larger context can one make sense of the more confounding passages. Vitruvius begins his work by addressing Augustus directly as "imperator Caesar" 7 and paying homage to his 2 Choisy (1909). 3 Gros' introduction in Callebat and Gros (1999). See also commentary in Gros (2015b).
Unusual terracotta tiles for the vaulting of Roman baths: An investigation into the exchange and diffusion of technical knowledge in the western Roman Empire
Niccolò Mugnai (ed.) Architectures of the Roman World: Models, Agency, Reception (Oxbow Books, Oxford): 23-39, 2023
The builders in Rome are known for their use of vaulting to create vast covered spaces and intric... more The builders in Rome are known for their use of vaulting to create vast covered spaces and intricate combinations of forms; the builders outside the imperial capital are less noted for their contributions to vaulted construction. Nevertheless, ingenious innovations also occurred far from the centre and spread in ways which provide a glimpse into some of the motivating factors behind the adoption of new types of construction. The two techniques examined in this paper – the armchair voussoir and the hollow voussoir – were never used in the capital itself and are limited largely to the western Roman Empire. They both are made of terracotta and were used almost exclusively in bath buildings, but they have distinctly different patterns of diffusion. Moreover, many of them bear stamps that provide some insight into their manufacture and dissemination which in turn sheds light on knowledge networks, cross-industry influence, and technology transfer in the western Empire.
Two Terracotta Vaulting Elements: Tracing Technology Transfer in the Western Mediterranean, 3rd Century BCE–2nd Century CE
Building the Classical World: Bauforschung as a Contemporary Approach Building the Classical World: Bauforschung as a Contemporary Approach Elisha Ann Dumser and Dorian Borbonus (ed.) , 2022
Imperial Rome had some of the most innovative vaulted architecture from the ancient world, but ev... more Imperial Rome had some of the most innovative vaulted architecture from the ancient world, but even before the Imperial period, builders were experimenting by creating new ways of using terracotta vaulting elements, usually in the context of bath buildings. This chapter examines the origins of two of them: vaulting tubes and armchair voussoirs. The initial uses of both techniques developed in response to the need for creating fire- and moisture-proof ceilings over the hot rooms of bath buildings at a time before concrete technology had developed. The roots of both techniques go back to the 3rd century BCE. The chapter traces their subsequent morphological development and geographical dissemination and suggests that the differing trajectories for each can be understood in relation to changing economic factors in different regions that affected the scale of terracotta production.
PDF available from Oxford Scholarship Online via university libraries - see link above under "File"
Mortars and plasters—How mortars were made. The literary sources.
E. Gliozzo and A. Pizzo (eds) Mortars, plasters and pigments: Research questions and answers (Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 13, 192), 2021
This article examines the ancient literary evidence for information regarding the ingredients and... more This article examines the ancient literary evidence for information regarding the ingredients and processes employed to make mortar, plaster, and sealants. The information from the authors is examined chronologically and within the genre and literary context in which it occurs to evaluate better the intention of the author. The challenges presented by the transmission of the manuscripts to the modern day and by the ambiguous and technical language sometimes employed are presented. Terms and expressions are compared between authors to determine how and to what degree such ambiguities can be resolved. The goal is to present a methodology for approaching ancient texts rather than to provide a definitive interpretation of their meaning, a task which is sometimes not possible given the nature of the evidence. Finally, a series of best practices is suggested for those approaching the texts without the benefits of philological training.(For access click on the paper title and then above the keywords, click on "1 file" for link)
“Technology.” In Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2015—. Article published March 07, 2016; last modified, March 25, 2021
Oxford Classical Dictionary, 2021
"Technology and Methods - Rome/Roman World". In Oxford Bibliographies Online, in Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
Oxford Bibliographies Online, 2020
American Journal of Archaeology, 2021
John James (Jim) Coulton died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 1 August 2020 after an extended bout wit... more John James (Jim) Coulton died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 1 August 2020 after an extended bout with cancer. A classical archaeologist and well-known expert on Greek architecture, Coulton had specific interests in principles of architectural design, especially of stoas and temples, and on the nature and development of the ancient city. Throughout his career he was active in field archaeology, both excavations and surveys, participating in projects in Greece, Turkey, Iran, Jordan, and Libya. He brought his exacting methods and penetrating eye to every team he joined or directed, and to the drawings and reconstructions he made and published. Jim Coulton was born in Pentney, U.K., a small village in Norfolk with ancient Roman roots, located a few miles southeast of King's Lynn. He was the third of four children born to Gordon Francis Coulton and Annie Goldie (née Denny). After completing his schooling at Winchester College, where he had won a scholarship, Coulton studied classics at St. John's College, Cambridge. Staying on at Cambridge, he completed his doctorate in classical archaeology under the supervision of William Hugh Plommer, an authority on the architecture of the classical world with wide-ranging architectural interests. Coulton's own graduate research resulted in the landmark publication The Architectural Development of the Greek Stoa, which appeared in 1976 as part of the distinguished Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology series; he would eventually serve as a member of the series' editorial board. His approach to the stoa would in many ways come to define his thorough, yet cautious approach to archaeological research in general: "Thus a variety of factors, technical, aesthetic, functional and climatic, apparently worked together to give rise to the popularity of the stoa among the Greeks. The factors. .. are not necessarily the only ones, although they seem the most important ones. " 1 Despite its age, the book remains the best starting place for the subject, covering the stoa's wide distribution through space and time. After Cambridge, Coulton held a series of academic positions, first at the Australian National University, Canberra (1964-1968), as a Lecturer in Classics, followed by a brief stint at the University of Manchester (1968-1969), and then at the University of Edinburgh as a member of the Department of Archaeology for a decade. In 1979, he was appointed Reader in Classical Archaeology at Oxford University and a Fellow of Merton College; in both positions, he succeeded John Boardman, who had been made Lincoln Professor of Classical Archaeology in 1978 following the retirement of Martin Robertson. Coulton remained at Oxford until his retirement as Emeritus Fellow of Merton in 2004. His retirement was marked by a colloquium held at Oxford that focused on the architecture and archaeology of the Cyclades. The papers,
Mortiers et hydraulique en Méditerranée antique, edited by Iván Fumadó Ortega and Sophie Bouffier, 2019
This paper focuses on three different ingredients used to create hydraulic mortar: volcanic ash, ... more This paper focuses on three different ingredients used to create hydraulic mortar: volcanic ash, crushed terracotta, and plant ash. Each one imparts somewhat different characteristics to the mortar and has a different processing method, which would have affected the chaîne opératoire of the building site. One goal is to examine these characteristics and processes. A second goal is to examine some problems in the terminology used to identify the ingredients. How can choices in terminology, such as "crushed tile mortar" vs. "crushed terracotta mortar" or "mortar with charcoal" vs. "mortar with ash", affect our understanding of the significance of choices made by ancient builder? I argue that using precise and objective terms to describe the ingredients in the mortar is an important step in being able to determine source materials, which in turn can provide insight into organizational practices on the worksite.
The Academic Body, Mark Robbins and Peter Bensen Miller (eds.), 2019
Essay on items from the American Academy in Rome Study Collection displayed in "The Academic Body... more Essay on items from the American Academy in Rome Study Collection displayed in "The Academic Body" exhibit at the AAR
The Art of Building a Masterpiece: Trajan's Column, Giovanni di Pasquale (ed.), 2019
L'Arte di costruire un capolavoro: La Colonna Traiana, Giovanni Di Pasquale (ed.), 2019
This paper provides an overview of themes represented in both the papers and the posters presente... 
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Books by Lynne Lancaster
Articles by Lynne Lancaster
development has often been characterized as the creation of new devices to accomplish particular goals more efficiently, but it can also include innovative advances made through the reorganization of work practices and through the combination of existing technologies. The latter was an area in which Roman entrepreneurs and craftsmen were particularly adept. The Romans inherited much from the Hellenistic Greeks, who had made great advances in various branches of technology during the "scientific revolution" of the third century BCE. The Roman contribution often lay in new applications of earlier Greek discoveries and inventions. The study of technology has been closely linked with the ancient economy, which was based on agricultural production, a largely rural activity. Nevertheless, urban centers formed the nodes of the networks that allowed the Roman
imperial economy to function as it did. Rome famously used the curial class as a means to bring conquered territories into the fold by cultivating existing cities and creating new colonies. These cities played a seminal role in the redistribution of agricultural products, so there was an intimate relationship between the two. In determining the necessarily limited range of topics to discuss here, I have tried to choose ones that reflect both rural and urban aspects of the role of technology in the formation of the empire.
PDF available from Oxford Scholarship Online via university libraries - see link above under "File"
https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.6251
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780190922467/obo-9780190922467-0043.xml