The Pevensey *Roman* tile hoax

A short thread for #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES (1/7)
The Pevensey *Roman* tile hoaxA short thread for #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES (1/7)
The Pevensey *Roman* tile hoaxA short thread for #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES (1/7)
The Pevensey *Roman* tile hoaxA short thread for #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES (1/7)
Fragments of stamped tile were found In 1906 during excavations by Louis Salzman for the @sussex_society inside the late Roman fortress of Pevensey #EastSussex

The stamp read “…ON AVG …NDR…”

Salzman couldn’t translate it

#MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 2/7
Fragments of stamped tile were found In 1906 during excavations by Louis Salzman for the @sussex_society inside the late Roman fortress of Pevensey #EastSussex The stamp read “…ON AVG …NDR…” Salzman couldn’t translate it #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 2/7
Fragments of stamped tile were found In 1906 during excavations by Louis Salzman for the @sussex_society inside the late Roman fortress of Pevensey #EastSussex The stamp read “…ON AVG …NDR…” Salzman couldn’t translate it #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 2/7
Fragments of stamped tile were found In 1906 during excavations by Louis Salzman for the @sussex_society inside the late Roman fortress of Pevensey #EastSussex The stamp read “…ON AVG …NDR…” Salzman couldn’t translate it #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 2/7
Shortly after it was published, Sussex solicitor Charles Dawson revealed that he’d found a complete version of the tile at Pevensey in 1902

At a meeting of @SocAntiquaries he exhibited the tile with the full text

HON AVG ANDRIA

#MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 3/7
Shortly after it was published, Sussex solicitor Charles Dawson revealed that he’d found a complete version of the tile at Pevensey in 1902At a meeting of @SocAntiquaries he exhibited the tile with the full textHON AVG ANDRIA #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 3/7
Shortly after it was published, Sussex solicitor Charles Dawson revealed that he’d found a complete version of the tile at Pevensey in 1902At a meeting of @SocAntiquaries he exhibited the tile with the full textHON AVG ANDRIA #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 3/7
Shortly after it was published, Sussex solicitor Charles Dawson revealed that he’d found a complete version of the tile at Pevensey in 1902At a meeting of @SocAntiquaries he exhibited the tile with the full textHON AVG ANDRIA #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 3/7
Dawson said the text on the Pevensey tile read “Honorius Augustus Anderida” and indicated the last official Roman building project, in AD 396, by the emperor Honorius

The find was a missing link between Roman Britain and Saxon England

#MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 4/7
Dawson said the text on the Pevensey tile read “Honorius Augustus Anderida” and indicated the last official Roman building project, in AD 396, by the emperor Honorius The find was a missing link between Roman Britain and Saxon England #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 4/7
Dawson said the text on the Pevensey tile read “Honorius Augustus Anderida” and indicated the last official Roman building project, in AD 396, by the emperor Honorius The find was a missing link between Roman Britain and Saxon England #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 4/7
Dawson said the text on the Pevensey tile read “Honorius Augustus Anderida” and indicated the last official Roman building project, in AD 396, by the emperor Honorius The find was a missing link between Roman Britain and Saxon England #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 4/7
Despite being an odd colour and fabric, the find was accepted as genuine until the 1970s

It had, Charles Dawson said, probably fallen from an arch and that “similarly burnt bricks” were visible in the fabric of Pevensey Roman fort wall

#MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 5/7
Despite being an odd colour and fabric, the find was accepted as genuine until the 1970sIt had, Charles Dawson said, probably fallen from an arch and that “similarly burnt bricks” were visible in the fabric of Pevensey Roman fort wall #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 5/7
Despite being an odd colour and fabric, the find was accepted as genuine until the 1970sIt had, Charles Dawson said, probably fallen from an arch and that “similarly burnt bricks” were visible in the fabric of Pevensey Roman fort wall #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 5/7
Despite being an odd colour and fabric, the find was accepted as genuine until the 1970sIt had, Charles Dawson said, probably fallen from an arch and that “similarly burnt bricks” were visible in the fabric of Pevensey Roman fort wall #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 5/7
In 1973 John Mainwaring Baines @hastings_museum Museum and David Peacock @sotonarch subjected the tiles to thermoluminescence dating

The results suggested the tiles were made no earlier than 1900

They had been new when found

#MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 6/7
In 1973 John Mainwaring Baines @hastings_museum Museum and David Peacock @sotonarch subjected the tiles to thermoluminescence datingThe results suggested the tiles were made no earlier than 1900They had been new when found #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 6/7
In 1973 John Mainwaring Baines @hastings_museum Museum and David Peacock @sotonarch subjected the tiles to thermoluminescence datingThe results suggested the tiles were made no earlier than 1900They had been new when found #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 6/7
The Pevensey *Roman* tiles were one of 33 forgeries made by Charles Dawson between 1885-1916

His greatest *discovery* was Piltdown Man, made in 1912, then thought to be the *Missing Link* in the chain of evolution between ape and human

#MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 7/8
The Pevensey *Roman* tiles were one of 33 forgeries made by Charles Dawson between 1885-1916His greatest *discovery* was Piltdown Man, made in 1912, then thought to be the *Missing Link* in the chain of evolution between ape and human #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 7/8
The Pevensey *Roman* tiles were one of 33 forgeries made by Charles Dawson between 1885-1916His greatest *discovery* was Piltdown Man, made in 1912, then thought to be the *Missing Link* in the chain of evolution between ape and human #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 7/8
The Pevensey *Roman* tiles were one of 33 forgeries made by Charles Dawson between 1885-1916His greatest *discovery* was Piltdown Man, made in 1912, then thought to be the *Missing Link* in the chain of evolution between ape and human #MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 7/8
Charles Dawson FGS FSA is today recognised as the most prolific forger of the modern era

His collection of *finds* can be found in the excellent @hastings_museum @NHM_London @BrightonMuseums

#MuseumsUnlocked day 126: FORGERIES 8/8

For more see:

https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/piltdown-man
You can follow @Durotrigesdig.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled:
Those who think consciousness raising & movement building are disconnected, or even a distraction from electoral politics have not paid attention to the history of social change.In this thread, we
Read more
The 2020s will be known as the Remote Work decadeA few predictions of what is likely to emerge[ a thread ] Third Space: Office and Working from Home will
Read more
1/29: Have you ever had a concept explained to you that helps frame complex issues you’ve been wrestling with and opens your eyes to new possibilities? A concept that I
Read more
By continuing to use the site, you are consenting to the use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy to improve your experience.