Jon Coulston Explained

Jonathan Charles Nelson Coulston (5 July 1957 – 6 July 2024) was a British archaeologist and lecturer who specialised in Roman army studies and Roman art and architecture. He was Senior Lecturer in the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews.^[1]

Biography

Coulston undertook undergraduate studies at Leicester University, and his postgraduate and PhD studies at the University of Newcastle. His 1988 PhD thesis was titled "Trajan's column: the sculpting and relief content of a Roman propaganda monument".^[2] Jon married Hazel Dodge.

Coulston published widely in the fields of Roman army studies, especially relating to Roman cavalry equipment, and on Roman art and architecture. He was a leading scholar on the iconography of Trajan's column and its use in studying the Roman army. He was awarded a University Teaching Award from St. Andrews in 2016.^[3]

Coulston was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1991. He was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London on 10 October 2002.^[4]

Coulston died from cancer on 6 July 2024, one day after his 67th birthday.^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Select bibliography

• Coulston, J.C.N. 1988. Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani Hadrian’s Wall West of the North Tyne, and Carlisle
• Coulston, J.C.N. and Dodge, H. (eds) 2000. Ancient Rome: the Archaeology of the Eternal City (Oxford University School of Archaeology Monograph 54).
• Bishop, M.C. and Coulston, J.C.N. 2006 (2nd edition). Roman military equipment: from the Punic wars to the fall of Rome.
• Coulston, J.C.N. 2014. "Monumentalising military service: soldiers in Romano-British sculpture", in Collins, R. & McIntosh, F. (eds). Life in the Limes. Studies of the People and Objects of the Roman Frontiers. Oxbow. 68–78.
• Coulston, J.C.N. 2018. "The Army in Imperial Rome", in Holleran, C. & Claridge, A. (eds).A Companion to the City of Rome. Wiley-Blackwell. 173–195.
• Coulston, J.C.N. 2020. "The cavalry on Trajan's Column: a study in composition, content and sculptural intent", in Proceedings of the Nineteenth Roman Military Equipment Conference (RoMEC XVIIII). The Armatura Press. 257–292.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dr Jonathan Coulston . University of St Andrews . 9 July 2024.
2. Trajan's column: the sculpting and relief content of a Roman propaganda monument . Coulston, J.C.N. . 1988 . University of Newcastle.
3. Web site: Best Teachers of 2016 . 21 April 2016 . University of St Andrews . 9 July 2024.
4. Web site: Dr Jonathan Coulston . Society of Antiquaries of London . 9 July 2024.
5. Bishop . Mike C . MikeCBishop . 1810062113898905997 . 7 July 2024 . It is with immense sadness that I have to report the death of my very good friend, colleague, and co-author Dr Jon Coulston on July 6th after a brief illness . 9 July 2024.
6. Web site: In fond remembrance of our dear friend and colleague Dr Jon Coulston, who left us surrounded by loving family on Saturday 6th July. We will miss him dearly. . Trinity College Dublin Classics on Facebook . 19 July 2024 . 8 July 2024.
7. Web site: Dr Jonathan Charles Nelson Coulston . Dignity Funeral Directors . 23 July 2024.
8. News: Jon Coulston, classics scholar and authority on Trajan’s Column in Rome – obituary . 3 August 2024 . The Telegraph . 1 August 2024.