Douglas Underwood, Ph.D. (2015), University of St Andrews, is an independent scholar, focusing on Roman and late antique urbanism. He has published articles and book chapters on aspects of that research including spolia, fortifications and public monuments.

"This book is innovative and underlines transformations in the late antique Mediterranean area. Its approach to reuse is rich, full of nuance, and based on a subtle analysis of all archaeological data. [...] There is no doubt this book will become a reference for the evolutionary processes of public buildings during Late Antiquity". Blaise Pichon, in Bryn Mawr Classical Review , 13.07.2020.

• ForewordList of IllustrationsAbbreviationsIntroductionMethods and Structure: CoverageMethods and Structure: Approach and EvidenceMethods and Structure: Definitions1 Late Antiquity and the CityHistorical BackgroundUrban Evolutions in Late AntiquityConclusions2 Baths, Aqueducts and WaterIntroductionEarly Imperial Baths and AqueductsBaths in Late AntiquityAqueducts in Late AntiquityTrends and CausesConclusions3 Spectacle BuildingsIntroductionEarly Imperial Spectacle BuildingsSpectacle Buildings in Late AntiquityTrends and CausesConclusions4 Reuse and Public BuildingsPast StudyReuse in the Early EmpireConceptualising and Categorising ReuseThe Reuse of Public Architecture in the Late Antique West, ca.300–600Overall Trends 165Reuse and the Late Antique CityConclusions5 Analysis and DiscussionExplanations for the Demise and Reuse of this Group of PublicbuildingsPublic Buildings and the Late Antique CityConclusionAppendix I: Timeline of Dates and EventsAppendix II: Benefaction in the Western EmpireAppendix III: TablesBibliographyAncient Textual EditionsModern SourcesIndex