Obituary: Dr Malcolm Lyne FSA (1943–2023)
Malcolm Lyne was an archaeologist, historian and numismatist cut from a different mould. His wide range of knowledge and expertise meant that many people knew him from a wide range of disciplines in Britain and abroad; therefore, it is virtually impossible for one person to encapsulate all his activities!
Although he always had a deep interest in the past, it was not until 1989-1993 that he focused on his archaeological work, studying for a PhD on Late Roman Handmade Wares in South-East Britain under Michael Fulford at Reading University. Thereafter, he worked as a freelance archaeologist, working on pottery, small finds and coins from sites across the south of England.
In the 1970s, Malcolm made important steps in understanding Alice Holt pottery, receiving the ‘Chronicle Award’ for 1978 from the Prince of Wales. His first work on the subject was published by the CBA in 1979, The Alice Holt / Farnham Roman Pottery Industry, but after subsequent research, a more comprehensive publication appeared as Archaeological Research in Binsted, Kingsley and Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire (BAR 2012). He went on to be an expert on pottery in the south-east, publishing assemblages from Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Surrey, Middlesex and Hertfordshire. In Kent, he wrote up the ceramics from the Roman temple at Westhawk Farm, the villa at Minster in Thanet, and the watermills and settlement at Ickham; he also assisted enormously with the ceramics from Lympne. In recent years, he wrote two seminal works on pottery, Late Roman handmade grog-tempered ware producing industries in South East Britain (Archeopress 2015) and Late Roman Dorset Black-Burnished Ware (BB1) (Archaeopress 2022). The latter work strayed into Northern Gaul, where he was able to suggest connections between BB1 and the activities of his beloved Roman emperors Carausius and Allectus (see below). His prodigious knowledge of south-eastern ceramics was legendary and I used to marvel at how he ‘read’ an assemblage of pottery as if it were a newspaper. Creating a KAS Fabric Collection named after Malcolm would be a fitting tribute, especially if it came with some funding to train a much-needed new generation of ceramicists.
Malcolm was also deeply interested in the Saxon Shore Forts and coastal installations on the Continent. He was an authority on Pevensey Castle and published numerous articles on finds from Richborough. He was an essential source of information for anyone researching the defence of late Roman Britain and its relationship with Gaul.
Malcolm acquired his first Roman coins in an antique shop in Littlehampton in 1965. Amongst them was a coin of Maximinus II (AD 308-13) struck in the mint at London. This led to a lifelong passion for coins relating to, and struck in, Roman Britain. Malcolm put together a very impressive collection, including numerous important coins of the British emperors Carausius and Allectus (AD 286-96). He was an acknowledged expert in the field and published numerous articles about their coinages in the Numismatic Chronicle and Numismatic Circular. Because he had so many rare pieces, his collection figures prominently in the forthcoming edition of Roman Imperial Coinage; furthermore, his knowledge and insights have a major influence on the interpretation covered in the introduction to the work.
Malcolm was a frequent speaker and attendee at many events. He was regularly seen at the lectures of the Royal and British Numismatic Societies, the Society of Antiquaries and at many conferences, notably the Congress of Roman Frontier / Limes Studies. He was always full of original thoughts derived directly from his experiences, often pricking the bubble of more theoretical pronouncements. However, he was also kind and open to the thoughts of others. His generosity was unbounded, whether giving advice on ceramics or allowing numismatists access to his coin collection. Malcolm’s passing leaves a massive hole for Roman archaeology in the Southeast, a chasm we must try to fill.
By Sam Moorhead