Description: The recycling and reuse of materials and objects were extensive in the past, but have rarely been embedded into models of the economy: this volume is the first to explore these practices in the Roman economy, drawing on a variety of methodological approaches and new scientific developments in a wide-ranging interdisciplinary study.
Review Quotes: "This book comes as a fresh acquisition for Late Antique archaeology, and for Roman archaeology in general as well." -- Andrea Murace, Roma Tre University, Mouseion
"The present volume brilliantly succeeds in its chosen aims of summarizing the--often very innovative and eye-opening--newest research and pointing out new research possibilities, and will surely become a starting point for future research." -- Stefanie Hoss, University of Cologne, Bryn Mawr Classical Review"...this is an excellent book. The ideas are valuable, and it is well written, thoroughly illustrated, and beautifully produced. It will provide a better understanding of the ancient world to both specialist and general readers, particularly those with interests in technology, economy, and the essential aspects of Roman life that remain undervalued and understudied..." -- Allison L. C. Emmerson, Technology and Culture"The volume advances our understanding of the ancient world and sets the stage for further inquiry into the material and labor histories that undergird it." -- Anna M. V. Bowden, Biblical Literature"This volume contributes to the growing view that the ancient economy was not a monolithic system but a plurality of interconnected economies, shaped by local practices and responses to changing material realities. It dismantles the assumption that recycling was a reaction to scarcity, revealing it instead as a marker of resilience, innovation, and economic sophistication. In this way, the volume advances our understanding of the ancient world and sets the stage for further inquiry into the material and labor histories that undergird it." -- Anna M. V. Bowden, Review of Biblical Literature