About Roman Finds Group

 

The Roman Finds Group (RFG) provides a forum for all those with an interest in Roman artefacts. Founded in 1987, our membership is both professional and amateur, and new members are always welcome. Our current membership is 310.

Our main communication with members is through our twice-yearly newsletter, Lucerna and our Twitter feed where we have over 3,000 followers. Meetings are held twice a year across the country, with speakers presenting papers on a particular theme, site, region, exhibition, or current research in advance of publication. Meetings are normally regionally based: over the last five years meetings have been held in Canterbury, Colchester, London, Reading, Salisbury, Newcastle, and York. Our Autumn 2020 and Spring 2021 meetings were held online in association with the University's of Glasgow and Exeter respectively both attracting 300 registrations. Occasionally joint meetings are held with museums or other special interest groups; our Autumn 2019 meeting was held in association with Instrumentum, the Finds Research Group, and the Later Prehistoric Finds Group.

Our latest initiatives include 35 films on the study of Roman Finds and open access to recordings of our meeting talks.


The Benefits of Roman Finds Group Membership

 

The objectives of the RFG are to promote the study, research, publication, teaching and conservation of the material culture of Roman Britain. By joining RFG you are supporting our objectives and furthering the study of Roman material culture in Britain. Membership of the RFG will entitle individuals to:

  • Access to small grants to help with small finds research. These grants are available to individual, fully paid-up, Members and will be awarded for applications seeking to support our objectives eg publication drawings and maps or travel to museums for object research. Special consideration is given to articles offered to Lucerna. £2,000 is available each year (reviewable). Details on how to apply for grants are here.
  • Two copies of our newsletter, Lucerna, each year.
  • Access to our Roman finds Datasheets, recent datasheets have covered portable phallic objects, weighing instruments and Romano-British glass bangles.
  • Full access to the website, including the Members-only section which includes recent copies of Lucerna and Datasheets, as well as PDFs of finds catalogues and other out-of-print finds-related works.
  • Reduced fees to our twice-yearly meetings, held around the country each Spring (typically a two-day meeting) and Autumn.
  • Free access to members only seminars
  • Additional small bursaries to attend RFG meetings, including towards travel fees or accommodation, are also available to Members. Details on how to apply for bursaries are here.
  • Group payment for individual RFG members to Instrumentum, the European bi-annual magazine. Join through RFG to receive four years’ of Instrumentum membership for three years' payment. In addition the RFG will absorb the conversion fee in a bulk payment on your behalf.
  • Free/reduced entrance to major finds-related exhibitions, where this can be negotiated.
  • Discounts on finds-related books, or pre-publication offers, where these can be negotiated.

If you would like to join RFG, please click here.

 

New Research at the University of Reading on Roman Finds and new finds from the Region : Friday 8 – Saturday 9 March 2024

The 2024 Spring Roman Finds Group Conference is a joint event with Reading University, taking place in the Whiteknights campus and also streaming online. There will be 20 speakers over five sessions, looking at finds from the Reading area, further afield in Roman Britain and from across the Empire.

Click here for further Conference information

Zoom in on Roman Finds: Thursday July 27th: 19.30

30 Years of Roman Military Equipment

Mike Bishop and John Coulson on Past, Present and Future of Roman Military Equipment

Click here for all the seminar information as well as how to book

Zoom in on Roman Finds: Wednesday April 5th 2023. 18.00

East is East? Roman Finds from Slovenia

Two papers presented by colleagues from Slovenia. RFG members only.

Click here for all the seminar information as well as how to book

2023 Spring Conference: New Research on Finds from the Roman Midlands and Beyond

Friday 21st - Saturday 22nd April 2023

Our spring 2023 conference will be held at the Music Recital Hall, Lakeside Arts, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD with the opportunity to join by zoom. Five sessions (with posters, book sales and finds viewing) 21 illustrated papers, with a wine reception and private museum viewing. The RFG 2023 AGM will be held just before lunch on day two.  

Click here for the full programme and conference information

and here for the programme and booking page

 

2022 Autumn Conference: New Research on Finds from the Eastern region of Hadrian's Wall

Friday 7th - Saturday 8th October 2022

Our autumn 2022 conference will be held online on the zoom platform (blended content, some pre recorded, some live). 20 papers, plus four 'gallery tours'  There is no charge for joining the conference (although you must book), but donations to RFG are welcome.   

Click here for the full programme and conference instructions

and here for the programme and booking page

Zoom in on Roman Finds: Thursday 18th August 2022. 18.00 - 19.15

New Perspectives on 'Military' Finds

Two papers presented by RFG members on new interpretations of military equipment. RFG members only.

Click here for all the seminar information as well as how to book

New Research on Finds from Roman Carlisle and the West of Hadrian’s Wall

Friday 6th - Saturday 7th May 2022

Our spring 2022 conference will be held in Carlisle. 19 papers with a pre conference tour of Carlisle Castle, an evening wine reception with dedicated access to the galleries and the Edges of Empire and Uncovering Roman Carlisle special exhibitions, a conference meal on the Friday evening and finds viewing, book sales and poster opportuniites. Cant be there in person - join us online. The full programme details can be found here. 

Click here for the full programme  and here for the programme and booking page

Zoom in on Roman Finds: Monday January 24th 2022. 18.00 - 19.15

Presentations from Scotland. A pre Burns night seminar

Three papers presented by RFG members from Scotland. RFG members only.

Click here for all the seminar information as well as how to book

 

Zoom in on Finds : Tuesday 14th December 2021. 18.00 - 19.15

A Christmas Miscellany

A joint meeting between RFG and FRG. A series of ten short, five minute papers, for fun before Christmas.

Click here for all the seminar information as well as how to book

 

RFG Films

We have made a series of introductory films on Roman finds, with leading Roman finds specialists and access to collections from across the country. Our first series of ten films covers domestic life, personal life and working life. Our second series is currently in production.

View the films here.

RFG newsletter - Lucerna

Lucerna is published in hard copy twice a year, and contains articles on finds, interesting unpublished objects, book and conference reviews, news of meetings and conferences, and a forum for help with puzzling artefacts. Contributions are welcomed by our Newsletter Editor Matt Fittock (see 'RFG Committee' page). The full archive can be found on our Lucerna page, with editions from the most recent two years available exclusively to RFG Members.

View Current and Previous Issues Of Lucerna

RFG Poster

Please share! Download and pin up this poster, to promote RFG to a wider audience. Thank you!

Roman Finds Group Poster

Click here to download the PDF.

N fINDS

Latest News

RFG Exeter Conference 16th and 17th April 2021 - free open access - all welcome

Sorry, this event is now sold out. Click on the link above or visit the meetings page.... Read More »

Call for papers on dress and adornment at the 25th Limes Congress

From 22-28 August 2021 the 25th Limes Congress will take place in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. We would like to invite paper proposals for Session 16: Dress and adornment in frontier communities.... Read More »

Glasgow Conference Postponed

Unfortunately the Glasgow conference due to take place on 3rd/4th April has had to be postponed. Our Autumn 2020 meeting resurrect he meeting with as close to the original programme as possible.... Read More »

Masterclass on Romano-British Brooches

We are delighted to announce that Roman Finds Group committee member Dr Jörn Schuster will be offering a one-day Masterclass on Romano-British Brooches with former RFG committee members Dr Hella Eckhardt and Dr Emma Durham from the University of Reading. This one-day event will enhance your skills in the description, identification and dating of Romano-British brooches. You will also learn about the way the PAS records brooches and the research potential of personal adornment for our understanding of Roman Britain.... Read More »

Happy 30th Birthday, Roman Finds Group!

Roman Finds Group chose the city of Salisbury as the perfect place to celebrate our 30th anniversary at our Autumn 2017 conference, ‘New Research from Finds from South and South-Western Britain’.... Read More »

RFG 30th Anniversary Meeting 20th and 21st October 2017 at Salisbury Museum

This year the Roman Finds Group is 30 years old. To celebrate, we’ve organised our 2017 Autumn Meeting in Salisbury, where there will be a special reception.... Read More »

The metallurgy of our portable heritage

The metallurgy of our portable heritage study day is being held on Saturday the 17th June, 2017 at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London... Read More »

Call For Papers for Autumn RFG Meeting at Salisbury Museum on 20th-21st October 2017

The theme will be ‘Finds from Southern and South-western Britain’. This is call for papers of around 20 minutes in length.... Read More »

An Introduction to Archaeological Illustration - Saturday March 4 and Sunday 5th 2017

This weekend workshop covers aspects and techniques of archaeological illustration under the personal tuition of Mark Hoyle BA(hon);P.G.C.E.;MAAIS; MIfA. The course will look at general techniques and methods of accurately recording small finds including pottery illustration, metal objects, bone, and leatherwork. There will be a selection of objects from the excavations at Vindolanda to handle and draw over the duration of the course. An archaeological drawing starter pack to use and keep will be provided.... Read More »

Roman Rural Settlement Project - Feedback Needed and Meeting on 14th September 2016

Members of the project team and others have produced a series of short papers concerning various aspects of methodological approaches which cover a variety of topics, including one on finds, which can now be viewed and downloaded at http://www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/methodology-study/. We are keen to get responses to the papers, and have provided an opportunity for written comments on the papers to be submitted by email.... Read More »

Fully funded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD studentship between the University of Kent and English Heritage

The key research question is as follows: How does the artefact assemblage of small finds from Roman Richborough contribute to our understanding of the military site, its occupants, and the wider nature of the Roman military in the NW provinces of the empire? There is scope to develop the project according to the student’s particular interests for instance by focusing on particular methodological approaches or categories of material.... Read More »

Finds from Roman York, Brigantia and Beyond - Abstracts Published

We have now received the abstracts for our forthcoming conference. You can read them all here.... Read More »

New Grants Available From Roman Finds Group

A series of small grants are available from the Roman Finds Group to all fully paid-up members.... Read More »

Smile please! RFG to go on film

The RFG is in the process of embarking on an exciting new project designed to act as an educational aid.... Read More »

MOLA are advertising for three Finds Trainee posts - Closing Date 30th September 2015

Museum of London Archaeology are advertising for three Finds Trainee posts. Closing Date 30th September 2015.... Read More »

Full Details and Booking Form Available for 'Celts' Conference Autumn 2015

A major Later Prehistoric Finds Group & Roman Finds Group conference in collaboration with the British Museum and including entry to the temporary exhibition. Full details and booking forms are now online.... Read More »

Grant to support the study of PAS finds from Cheshire

Chester Archaeological Society wishes to encourage the study and publication of objects (or groups/types of object) reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme from Cheshire and adjoining areas, to ensure that their potential contribution to the understanding of the archaeology and history of the county is realised.... Read More »

Constitution for Roman Finds Group

RFG members have recently received a letter setting out options for additional future activities together with a copy of our draft constitution; comments on both are welcome.... Read More »

A Review of Our October 2014 Meeting at Manchester Museum

Click here to read a review of this meeting, written by Bryan Sitch... Read More »

Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies

The Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies was the foremost medium for publishing Roman military equipment. Founding editor (and member and friend of RFG) Mike Bishop’s crowdfunding campaign to revive JRMES (and the newsletter Arma) has exceeded his target; all funds will contribute to future publications.... Read More »

RFG Membership of Council for British Archaeology

The RFG is proud to be an organisational member of the Council for British Archaeology.... Read More »

Cheshire Archaeology Public Consultation

The future delivery of archaeology services in Cheshire is currently under review and is open to public consultation, which is being carried out by an on-line-only questionnaire.... Read More »

Finds from the Roman North and Beyond

Joint Roman Finds Group and Centre for Interdisciplinary Artefact Studies Meeting Spring 2015 Roman Finds Group with the CIAS, Newcastle University Bookings are now open for the Spring 2015 Meeting... Read More »

Call For Papers for #TRAC2015

Following the success of last year’s Roman Finds Group session at TRAC, we are very pleased to sponsor a session this year on ‘Interdisciplinary Approaches to Roman Artefacts’.... Read More »

BARGAIN ROMAN MONOGRAPHS

The following Roman-period Yorkshire Archaeological Reports are now available at greatly reduced prices:... Read More »

Roman Society Working Party Questionnaire

The Roman Society is trying to gather data on how it can better develop links with museums, local societies and schools. Please contribute your views via our online survey. Thanks!... Read More »

Date For Your Diary: Manchester Meeting on 8th October 2014

A date for your diaries. We are going ahead with arrangements for an exciting meeting in Manchester in the autumn and the date is now confirmed as Wednesday 8th October, (not as given in the last Lucerna).... Read More »

PhD Studentship in Archaeology | University of Reading

Project title: Tools in Roman London: industry, household practice and ritual deposition across the ancient city.... Read More »

PhD Studentship in Archaeology | University of Reading

Project title: Ringing the changes: the social significance of finger-rings in Roman Britain... Read More »

Vindolanda - An Introduction to Archaeological Illustration - ; 22nd - 23rd February 2014

This weekend workshop covers aspects and techniques of archaeological illustration under the personal tuition of Mark Hoyle BA(hon);P.G.C.E.;MAAIS; MIfA... Read More »

Unusually large find of seals and amulets in ancient sanctuary in Turkey

Classical scholars from the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” made an unusually large find of seals in an ancient sanctuary in Turkey.... Read More »

Online Course: Pompeii and the Cities of the Roman World

Sera Baker, who attended the RFG Meeting at the British Museum this year has sent details of a new course being run online by the University of Oxford.... Read More »

Conference Dates

Three dates for your diary. 27es Rencontres de l’AFAV # 9-10 novembre 2012 # Musée d'Aquitaine # Bordeaux. L’Antiquité tardive dans l’Est de la Gaule 3 - 8-10 novembre 2012. AFPMA-Association Française pour la Peinture Murale Antique : XXVIe séminaire.... Read More »

Roman Altars

An altar has been discovered during recent excavations at Maryport, the first for 142 years. See the news story at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19224154... Read More »

Catch our committee member Sally Worrell on ITV Secret Treasures this week!

Catch our committee member Sally Worrell on ITV Secret Treasures this week! The programme, timed to coincide with this week's Festival of British Archaeology, features the top 50 finds made by members of the British public in the last 20 years, and runs on ITV1 for several evenings, culminating in an hour-long special on Sunday 22 July.... Read More »

Society of Museum Archaeologists training courses

A list of upcoming courses from the Society of Museum Archeologists.... Read More »

Training opportunity

During this week-long course you will learn the basics of processing finds from archaeological excavations. Guided by nearly a dozen experienced practitioners and specialists, you will go through all the various stages from handling and packaging, to sorting and cataloguing.... Read More »

Portable Antiquities Website

The Portable Antiquities Scheme website provides information about Scheme, eg contact details for the finds liaison officers and reports on recent finds.... Read More »

The British Museum Study Centre

Another development which is worth saying something about is the Study Centre. This is located a short distance away from the main Museum site on New Oxford Street. The current projected date for completion is 2004... Read More »

All change at the British Museum (2001)

On December 6th 2000 the Queen opened the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court after nearly three years of building work. The courtyard is vast, which is the first impression you get on entering, especially when you raise your eyes to Foster's domed glass roof.... Read More »

Training opportunity (July 2010)

IfA Workplace Learning Bursaries. Museum of London Archaeology will be hosting two IfA-funded opportunities for training from late summer / early autumn.... Read More »

Your group needs you! (January 2011)

The RFG has been in crisis - you may have noticed the absence of meetings and a winter newsletter in 2010. Since the appeal in Lucerna 39 (September 2010), we have recruited several new committee members - thank you!... Read More »

Could you contribute to Diggers' Forum?

Over at the Diggers' Forum we're relaunching our newsletter and we are planning on including factsheets and short informative pieces on subjects that are of interest to our membership.... Read More »

Survey of Archaeological Specialists 2010 - 11

Landward Research have been commissioned by the Higher Education Academy's History, Classics and Archaeology Subject Centre and English Heritage to conduct a survey of archaeological specialists.... Read More »

Archaeological Evidence for Glassworking - Guidelines for Best Practice

This latest edition in the English Heritage Guidelines series focuses on the identification, investigation and interpretation of glassworking evidence at sites in England from the Bronze Age until the 20th century.... Read More »

Please help us to make the Roman Finds Group even better!

Since 1988, the RFG has been a useful forum for everyone with an interest in Roman finds.... Read More »