From a Roman Hoard to Multivocal Assemblages: Inchtuthil Nails, Ontological Itineraries, and the Making of Contemporary Heritage

This article examines the post-excavation trajectories of iron nails from the Roman hoard uncovered at Inchtuthil, Scotland, in 1960, using the framework of object itinerary theory. Through twenty-four semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with private collectors and institutional representatives the study traces how these artefacts have circulated globally and acquired new meanings beyond their archaeological contexts. The study introduces a dual framework of physical and ontological itineraries: the former traces the tangible dispersal of the nails, while the latter explores how their roles and values evolve through relational, representational and affective engagements. The results show that the nails have moved from utilitarian Roman tools to contemporary heritage artefacts, functioning variously as teaching aids, mementos and social connectors. Their presence in both public and private collections demonstrates how material culture mediates memory, emotion, and belonging across time and contexts. In highlighting the evolving roles of these artefacts, the article challenges static models of object interpretation and advances a more fluid understanding of heritage as shaped through ongoing human-object interactions.