Simon James, The Roman military base at Dura-Europos, Syria: an archaeological visualisation. . Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2019. xxxiii, 345 p.. ISBN 9780198743569 $175.00.Excerpt:
Review by
Matthew M. McCarty, University of British Columbia. matthew.mccarty@ubc.ca
James’ work on the military zone demonstrates both the need and potential for full re-analysis of legacy data from Dura and other sites with similar excavation histories. It offers a methodologically robust paradigm for doing so, whose value is apparent from the way James is able to re-write the history and archaeology of Roman-controlled Dura. This is an auspicious opening to mark the centenary of Dura studies, and a model starting point for reevaluating one of the most important archaeological sites in the Roman East.For many past posts on Dura-Europos, know in particular for the remarkable biblical murals in its third-century CE synagogue, start here and follow the links. The city also had a house church and a Mithraeum.
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