Author Description
The Recycling And Reuse Of Materials And Objects Were Extensive In The Past, But Have Rarely Been Embedded Into Models Of The Economy; Even More Rarely Has Any Attempt Been Made To Address The Scale Of These Practices. Recent Developments, Including The Use Of Large Datasets, Computational Modelling, And High-resolution Analytical Chemistry Are Increasingly Offering The Means To Reconstruct Recycling And Reuse, And Even To Approach The Thorny Issue Of Quantification. This Volume Is The First To Bring Together These New Approaches, And The First To Present A Consideration Of Recycling And Reuse In The Roman Economy, Taking Into Account A Range Of Materials And Using A Variety Of Methodological Approaches. It Presents Integrated, Cross-referential Evidence For The Recycling And Reuse Of Textiles, Papyrus, Statuary And Building Materials, Amphorae, Metals, And Glass, And Examines Significant Questions About Organization, Value, And The Social Meaning Of Recycling.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the scale, organization, and economic significance of material recycling and reuse practices within the Roman Empire. The authors, Andrew Wilson and Chloë N. Duckworth, synthesize recent advancements in computational modeling and analytical chemistry to move beyond anecdotal evidence. By integrating diverse datasets, they establish a framework for quantifying how Roman society managed resources and waste, challenging traditional economic models that often overlook these circular practices.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of recycling practices for textiles, papyrus, statuary, building materials, amphorae, metals, and glass.
- Methodological applications of high-resolution analytical chemistry and computational modeling.
- Examination of the social meaning and value systems attached to reused objects.
Scope Limits
- The study focuses primarily on the Roman period and does not provide a comparative analysis of recycling in other ancient civilizations.
- It does not offer a comprehensive inventory of every possible material, focusing instead on those with significant archaeological evidence.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts identify this work as a foundational text for integrating material science into economic history. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for scholars and students of classical archaeology and ancient economic systems.
Page Count:
496
Publication Date:
2020-01-01
ISBN-10:
0192604864
ISBN-13:
9780192604866
Economics
History
Archaeology
Roman History
Sustainability