British Epigraphy Society Practical Epigraphy Workshop Report on Workshop IV (Corbridge, 2011)
The fourth British Epigraphy Society Practical Epigraphy Workshop was held at the Roman Fort Museum, Corbridge, from 28-30 June 2011. The Organising Committee comprised Dr Peter Haarer (Regent's Park College, Oxford), Dr Charlotte Tupman (King's College, London), and Dr Charles Crowther (Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, Oxford). The instructors on the Workshop were Professor Roger Tomlin (Wolfson College, Oxford), Dr Charles Crowther, and Dr Charlotte Tupman. In addition, instruction in photography was provided by Mr Glyn Goodrick. The course was over-subscribed and two applicants were turned away. Five of our participants were based at institutions in the UK, and three Overseas. One of our Overseas participants was unfortunately unable to attend at the last minute due to a serious car accident, from which he is now recovering.
The programme provided practical instruction on squeeze-making, drawing, and photographing inscriptions. Participants were each assigned an inscribed stone to study from the Museum's collection, and concluded the course by presenting this to the group. During the study sessions all participants had the opportunity to discuss their allotted text in detail with the instructors, who gave advice and insight into the historical context of the inscriptions as well as on the reading of the letters.
In addition to the practical instruction and study sessions, a lecture was given by Mr Richard Grasby, an expert letterer in stone, on the preparation and cutting of Roman inscriptions. This included a demonstration of cutting letters with professional tools, which each participant had the opportunity to try. Participants were given a guided tour of the site and museum by Dr Roger Tomlin, including a detailed explanation of each of the main inscriptions in the museum's collection. Dr Tomlin also led a trip into the town of Corbridge to see a Roman arch built into the church, and a Roman altar built into the walls of a house. Dr Tomlin is publishing a new reading of this text, and gave participants a talk on the reasons for his interpretation of the inscription.
We are extremely grateful to the Roman Fort Museum at Corbridge, and particularly to its curator Georgina Plowright for her hospitality and assistance. The workshop could not have taken place without the organisers and instructors who gave of their time freely and generously, or the support of several grant-giving bodies, including the generous grant of £300 from The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. It also received a major contribution from AIEGL, and the workshop was underwritten by the British Epigraphy Society. Further details of the Workshop may be viewed at: http://www.csad.ox.ac.uk/BES/workshops/Workshop.htm