Roman citizenship of Italian *Augustales : evidence, problems, competitive advantages

The title * augustalis was used during the first three centuries A. D., to refer to an honorary position in local society. It was mostly bestowed on wealthy freedmen who, because of their servile birth, could not partake in the official cursus honorum. Scholars have considered * augustales to be Roman citizens, but this academic consensus is based on a broadly refuted interpretation of only five documents concerning one exceptional case. Although the value of these documents for the discussion of the civic status of * augustales was dismissed, the presumed Roman citizenship of * augustales inferred from them was not. This paper addresses three questions : (1) What (potential) evidence do we have for the civic status of Italian * augustales ? (2) How do we evaluate and work with the information and figures obtained from these ? (3) If only some of the * augustales were Roman citizens, did this offer them a competitive advantage vis-à-vis their fellow * augustales who were not, and is this recorded in epigraphy ?Vandevoorde Lindsey. Roman Citizenship of Italian *Augustales. Evidence, Problems, Competitive Advantages. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 95, fasc. 1, 2017. Antiquité - Ouheid. pp. 81-108

Of mice and men : financial and occupational differentiation among *Augustales

What was the economic role of *augustales in the large commercial hubs of the Roman Empire? Inscriptions offer us some insight in the structure, size, and usage of the economic capital gathered by them. One leitmotif here is the question of whether the wealth of *augustales aided them in enlarging their social network or in obtaining an honorific position, and therefore furthered their integration in local society. The first section of this paper concerns itself with the importance of occupational and geographical differentiation. How were occupational titles important for the expression of social status? Are there any differences between the "regular" attestations of professions and those who recorded membership of a professional association? Which professions were common among *augustales? In which economic sectors do we encounter them? Are there indications of localised specialisation or geographical differentiation? Here, special attention is given to Ostia and Lugdunum. Finally, were *augustales involved in the imperial grain dole? A second section discusses which expenditures and benefactions express the wealth of *augustales, a proxy for their economic potential. How often do epigraphic attestations offer information on the role of *augustales as benefactors in their cities (and sometimes beyond)? What was the magnitude and typology of the gift? Besides benefactions, other ways were available to *augustales to stress the size of their economic capital. Did these other expenditures and benefactions overlap? How does this relate to other honours and/or privileges taken up by these *augustales

In situ assessment of the stone conservation state by its water absorbing behaviour : a hands-on methodology

This paper describes the use of the water absorbing behaviour (WAB) for assessment of the conservation state of stone in situ. A test methodology, consisting of a combination of techniques for in situ measurement of the WAB, was applied in a case study on Lede stone, a sandy limestone, used in a medieval facade in Ghent, Belgium. The methods used were the contact sponge method (CSM), the Karsten tube (KT) and the droplet method (DM). Additionally, the residual hardness of the stone was measured by Schmidt hammer (SH). After careful selection of representative measuring points, a qualitative analysis of the stone’s condition could be made, based on its WAB, residual hardness, reference data from laboratory experiments and thorough visual observations. From this analysis it could be concluded that CSM, KT and SH generated coherent and compatible results; that DM could indicate superficial alterations which were not necessarily representative for the subsuperficial WAB and that this methodology could give an insight on the conservation state, beyond visual observations, when combined with reference data

Vegetation map of the polder of Kruibeke, Bazel and Rupelmonde

The Sigmaplan is a protection plan against inundations from the Zeeschelde and its tributaries. Safety measures includes elevation of the dikes and the creation of controlled inundation areas. The polder of Kruibeke, Bazel and Rupelmonde (KBR) is the last and largest (600 ha) planned controlled inundation area. Construction works started in 2002. Unlike the other inundation areas its secondary function will be nature development rather than agriculture. In view of future developments and to establish starting conditions a vegetation map of the polder was made. A network of piezometers was installed in 1996 and expanded in 1998 to investigate the groundwater quality and regime. In june-september 2000 a vegetation relevé was made in each vegetation unit (614 in total), according to he reductionistic method. TWINSPAN was used to establish a vegetation typology. Eighteen vegetation types were distinguished: 9 types of woodlands and 9 types of grasslands . Several hydrological variables were linked to the vegetation types. Groundwater level and development time are the principal determinants for the woodlands. The Carici elongatae-Alnetum and the Alno-Padion, respectively on stands with the highest and lowest groundwater level and with the shortest and longest development time, are the two (sub)climax vegetations towards which the other woodland types e.g. the several poplar stands and clearances will evolve. The Lolio-Cynosuretum and the Lolio-Potentillion can be considered as the (sub)climax grassland vegetations. Management and the inundation regime are the most important determinants. In most cases biological value of the grasslands deteriorates due to the applied management