| Abstract: |
Ten contributors produce the first survey of the region for 30 years. Derek Roe (pp 1-17), The Palaeolithic period in the Oxford Region, sees here a near-microcosm of the entire British Pal sequence, and it contains the best Micoquian in Britain. Humphrey Case (18-37), on The Mesolithic and Neolithic . . ., discusses the extent of Meso clearance and examines afresh the causewayed enclosures, long barrows, cursus, labour estimates, and social groupings. Richard Bradley (38-48), The Bronze Age in the Oxford area - its local and regional significance, sees EBA intensification of agriculture to maintain the supply of exotica, and a gradual power shift down the Thames from Wessex, as well as a shift from burying wealth to depositing it in rivers, the development of important defended enclosures and the imposition of new boundaries. David Miles (49-57), The Iron Age, considers the continuing process of change, with agriculture more widely spread and more specialized, and hillforts giving way to lowland centres (Salmonsbury, Dyke Hills) and zoned activities. Some evidence for chiefdoms. Christopher Young (58-63), The Upper Thames Valley in the Roman period, considers settlement patterns and functions, the supply of produce for the cities (London, Silchester, etc) and the increasing Romanization of landowners who could also provide raw materials for building, pottery, etc. Sonia Chadwick Hawkes (64-108), The Early Saxon period, conducts a detailed enquiry into settlement, cemetery, and historical evidence to chronicle the progress of Saxon settlement. Tom Hassall (109-114), The Oxford Region from the conversion to the Conquest, investigates ecclesiastical and political evidence, the Danish incursions and the burhs (Wallingford, Oxford, and Cricklade); the 10th century monastic revival, the crystallizing of hundreds and shires, and the late Saxon churches both standing and newly excavated. In a second paper (115-34) he describes the archaeology of Oxford City from its 8th century beginnings: its topography, development, economy, and religious houses. James Bond (135-59), The Oxford region in the Middle Ages, considers the status and function of towns, the 'new' and purposely extended developments, rural contraction and migration, the castles and moated sites, forests and parks, churches, agriculture, and industry. Finally, John Steane (160-89) provides an extended commentary to accompany distribution maps of the archaeology of Oxfordshire, drawn from the SMR of nearly 13 000 sites, and taking into account factors restricting their completeness. |
