How we manage the borders both around and within the UK today is constantly in the news. Yet, many of the problems we currently face are very similar to those of historical times. This talk will explore the challenges faced in Roman history with a land border to the north for which the solution was fortified walls of stone or turf (created by the Emperors Hadrian and further north by Antoninus Pius). This will be contrasted with the need for a border extending from Norfolk to Hampshire achieved via a string of coastal fortifications. We will consider the relative effectiveness and fates of these various border measures and discuss whether these learnings can have implications for us today.

Dr David Rudling is the Academic Director of the Sussex School of Archaeology. He is also an Honorary Research Fellow and Visiting Lecturer at the University of Roehampton.

Previously David worked for 25 years for the UCL Field Archaeology Unit, before switching to the University of Sussex where he was Senior Lecturer in Archaeology (Continuing Education). David’s research interests include Roman rural settlements and land-use, religion and ritual in Roman Britain and beyond, and ancient and medieval coins. Sites excavated by David include Bignor Roman Villa and Chanctonbury Ring. David is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.