A Roman villa building at Mud Hole, Boxford, West Berkshire, was examined by excavation in 2017 and 2019, and found to be of probable fourth-century date. One room of this otherwise seemingly modest villa contained a remarkable late fourth-century figured mosaic, which features a number of rare mythological subjects not previously encountered in Britain. Inscriptions suggest the name of the villa owner (Caepio) and his wife (Fortunata), with a possible Spanish connection. The mosaic's central panel is ornamented with the triumphs of Pelops and Bellerophon, the former known only from two other mosaics, in Syria and Spain. The borders also contain depictions of stories unknown on other mosaics, but all concerned with aspects of triumph. The central panel is upheld by walking telamones (giants), otherwise only known on a mosaic from Tusculum, and the mosaicists have attempted to use foreshortening to give the floor a trompe l'oeil effect. The rare subjects depicted on the floor all relate to either Poseidon, Pelops, Bellerophon or Atlas, and suggest high standards of mythological knowledge and longevity of classical culture amongst the villa-owning inhabitants of late fourth-century Berkshire. The mosaic shows a connection to earlier depictions of the Pelops story, but is highly original in its interpretation of them and follows a contemporary trend, not previously encountered in Britain, of its subjects breaking out from their ornamental borders. The mosaic is an altogether exceptional discovery and can be considered an important example of late Roman art so far found in Britain.

A brooch from Marham, Norfolk, is identifed as being a hybrid Colchester Derivative and its relationship with other Colchester Derivatives is discussed. An examination of the basic distribution of the parent of the Marham brooch, the Rearhook, shows that it is of Icenian origin. Discussion of other rare hybrids along with the dating of the parent reveals that, alone of British brooches, the Rearhook has what may be described as an abrupt cut-off date which can be equated with the suppression of the Iceni. Only one hybrid has any development, and that is the one to which the Marham brooch belongs. The fantail foot found on many Rearhooks also has a later history which is examined. The discussion focuses on the dating and distribution of what may be described as ultimate Rearhook derivatives. The early post-Boudiccan history of the Iceni is alluded to and a case presented for the probable deliberate plantation of Icenians at Castleford.

‘et simul classis secunda tempestate ac fama Trucculensem portum tenuit, unde proximo Britanniae latere praelecto omnis redierat’.

The Romano-British lead-mining complex at Charterhouse-on-Mendip has long been recognised as amongst the most important industrial sites within the British province. This paper brings together the results of the recent English Heritage earthwork survey of the site which has enabled for the frst time the full characterisation of the settlement and its relationship with the core mining zones of the Blackmoor and Velvet Bottom valleys. It has also allowed a reassessment of life within an industrial settlement such as Charterhouse which challenges many preconceived perceptions of these settlement forms.

A silver belt-fitting from Cramond in the shape of a ring-pommel sword is linked to a class of beneficiarius equipment typical of Germania Superior. It is argued that this represents troop movements connected with the Severan campaigns.

Restormel fort is a small square, bivallate earthwork located on a spur above the River Fowey in Cornwall. In 2007 a geophysical survey was carried out which showed very clearly that the site was in fact a Roman fort and closely similar in size and in the position of its entrances to Nanstallon, until then the only known Roman fort in Cornwall. The position of these two forts has prompted speculation that they were located strategically to control movement both north–south along the rivers and east–west overland along the central Cornwall ridgeway. The proximity of both sites to significant deposits of metals suggests that the role of the forts may also be linked to the Roman interest in minerals.

Excavation carried out prior to the development of Park Lane Hospital, Musselburgh revealed the partial remains of a probable ring-groove house of first millennium B.C. date and a later sub-rectangular, post-built structure attached to a curving fence line. Although initially interpreted as a Roman granary, it now seems likely that the features were the partial remains of a timber amphitheatre associated with Roman Inveresk. Ditches and a number of negative features of unknown date and function were also recorded.

Constantius' biography of Saint Germanus, written c. A.D. 480, includes accounts of two missions undertaken to counter the spread of Pelagianism in Britain. Germanus' frst mission is also mentioned in the chronicle of Prosper, dated to A.D. 429. The second mission is undated, and is almost certainly a fantasy. Germanus' supposed initial victory by persuasion is implausible. Also, Prosper's account of Pope Celestine I's anti-Pelagian campaigns demonstrates that the heresy was suppressed in Britain in the frst mission. The chronology of Tibatto's rebellion precludes a second mission, and its chronological anomalies arise from the need to accommodate just such a second mission.

In 1992 a remarkable collection of metalwork was discovered at Quidney Farm by Jim McLean a local metal detectorist. The finds came from two discrete areas of a field which is c 8 hectares in size and located to the north of the farm in Saham Toney parish (FIGS 1 and 2). From a small area (Findspot A, FIG. 3) four complete bronze terrets or harness rings and a fifth broken and incomplete terret, an enamelled roundel, a plate brooch, and an iron axe head were found. The other group of artefacts, found together (Findspot B, FIG. 3), consisted of two copper-alloy horse bits, an iron and copper-alloy linch pin, a pair of iron manacles, and other fragments of metal, mainly iron, some possibly from a griddle. The finds form part of a rich collection of late Iron Age/ early Roman material found by Mr McLean at Quidney Farm between 1990 and 1993. Recorded under the same site number (County Site 29429) are a miniature terret found approximately 100 m to the west of Findspot A and an Icenian silver coin, boar/horse C type (0.69 g) which was found approximately 150 m to the north-west of the terrets. Also from the site are five Romano-British brooches which date to between A.D. 40 and 60/65. From the south-west end of the same field (recorded as County Site 28294) a total of eight brooches of Romano-British date and an Icenian early Freckenham type gold stater (5.35 g) have been found (FIG. 2a).