Ancient Borderlands Research Focus Group

Working with a physical border, in fact a wall, Douglass Underwood examines the Romanization of Toulouse, through the imposition of civic structures. Using spatial theories, Underwood examines the ways in which the boundaries and borders themselves can even become markers of identity. The Roman identity of the city of Toulouse was imposed by Romans, and the city wall itself, far from being merely a defensive structure, served a more important purpose of sending a message of power. By forcing a Roman identity on the city of Toulouse, over time, it did indeed become a Roman city. This examination problematizes the use of archaeological data, and examines the ways in which people deal with imposed structures.