The Environmental Impact of Changes to Religious Practices in Roman Britain

Given the environmental crises we face, many theorists and campaigners argue that we urgently need to re-evaluate our relationship with the nonhuman environment. But how do we encourage such large-scale cultural change? One strategy is learning from historical periods in which rapid cultural shifts resulted in different conceptualisations of nature, land-use, and stewardship. This study examines one underexplored example: environmental changes that occurred amid the social upheaval of the Roman invasion and settlement of Britain (c.43–410CE).

How did the conceptualisation and management of nature change during the Roman period, and what lessons can be applied to our current context? To answer these questions, this project combines environmental archaeology and philosophy. Environmental archaeology involves the scientific study of past environments through plant and animal remains, and environmental philosophy critically examines the concepts we use to think about and engage with nature. 

The project also addresses a significant gap in the literature. The details of environmental changes and transformations during the Roman period are often oversimplified or generalised and would benefit from more nuanced, context-specific analysis. This project particularly focuses on the significant transformation in religious practices during this period – from ritual depositions in natural water bodies, towards more monumental, temple-centred systems of religious practice. 

As such, the project will contribute to reshaping the environmental history of the Roman period in Britain, and – through examining how past societies navigated environmental change and resource use – also offer insights into how we tackle contemporary challenges of environmental sustainability, cultural integration, and landscape preservation.