Roman and Early Medieval Alloys Defined (REMADE): Reshaping Archaeological Metallurgy

During my four years as a Future Leader Fellow, the proposal “Reshaping Archaeological Metallurgy” has grown into the Roman and Early Medieval Alloys Defined (REMADE) research group at the University of Reading. This project has delivered the largest dedicated programme on the science of early metals in the UK. Collaborating with over sixteen key heritage organisations across the country has allowed the team to begin to fundamentally rewrite the material history of the Roman and early Medieval periods. Thanks to the support of the British Museum, National Museums of Scotland, MOLA, Oxford Archaeology, English Heritage, Portable Antiquities Scheme, Colchester Museum, Fishbourne Roman Palace, and others, REMADE has broken down artificial divides between museums and business, period and object specialisations, and the university and public.
This Renewal proposal builds upon this strong foundation and will deliver a further ambitious programme of research, impact, and growth. Firstly, through deriving the maximum influence from this first period of research. REMADE is now moving from full-archive recording with core partners, towards a flexible and reactive programme of targeted analysis to complete our chemical coverage. Publication and open-access publication plans will be expanded, and exhibition and gallery plans will be developed with the Vindolanda Trust.
Secondly, given the step-change in data, ideas, and connections, REMADE can now ask more ambitious questions of the metallurgical sequence. The Renewal will allow REMADE’s network to tackle how people interacted with metal across the entire reach of British Archaeology. REMADE, coupled with the fellow’s previous expertise on Bronze Age metallurgy, can use each period’s records to test the assumptions of the other. It is imperative that simple models of Bronze age power and contact are examined alongside Roman imperial expansion. Similarly, sophisticated concepts from prehistory research on identity and material expression should be used to challenge the idea that the appearance of brass can be equated with “romanisation”.
Thirdly, REMADE’s new links with archaeological businesses, the National Heritage Science Forum, and private finders have demonstrated a clear need for commercial access to chemical analysis and interpretations. There is also a pressing need for high quality, secure technician roles within the University sector. Therefore, this Renewal programme will complete the establishment of a sustainable, secure laboratory hub at the University of Reading. Alongside expanding the capacity for commercial work, this will be achieved by fully embedding REMADE’s progress with teaching, and through hosting new high-calibre research fellows.
Finally, copper-alloys are just one part of a wider, more challenging and rewarding story. The interplay of materials has been discussed for decades within archaeology, for example through the lens of cross-craftsmanship. It is vital that this conceptual promise is now fully realised and grounded in detailed data-led collaboration. Therefore, the most ambitious aim of REMADE is to integrate the results with new work on glass, organic materials, iron, ceramics and stone. By blending the approach to copper-alloys with the cutting-edge research of the fellow’s academic network, facilitated by leading heritage groups, REMADE will truly deliver on the promise of integrated, cross-crafts materials archaeology.