| Abstract: |
The fifteen papers comprise two general surveys, four period surveys, and eight topic surveys, as part of the continuing programme of the CBA's Urban Research Committee. Contributors discuss present achievements and future research needs, methods of investigation, and how to distribute available resources. John Schofield (pp 1-8) covers 'Recent approaches in urban archaeology', argued as a very productive form of spatial social science. M O H Carver (9-26) discusses 'The nature of urban deposits', analysing positive/negative features, wet/dry archaeology, and trace archaeology, and showing how different types of deposit can reveal plans, preserved assemblages, or sequences. Lists and maps of town sites. The period surveys begin with M J Jones & J S Wacher (27-45), 'The Roman period'; D Hill (46-53) takes 'The Saxon period'; D Palliser (54-68) 'The medieval period', and P J Davey (69-80) 'The post-medieval period'. The third section contains topic surveys, which look at topographical and architectural evidence, changing socio-econo-political systems, and future objectives. 'Urban defences' are taken, respectively, by M J Jones (Roman, 81-92) and C J Bond (AS & med, 92-116), with a complete checklist. 'Urban castles' are taken by C Drage (117-32): their town context, military, residential, and administrative uses, etc. D F Mackreth (133-46) discusses 'Roman public buildings' in relation to street systems, fora, macella, baths, theatres, and the like. D Perring (147-55) in 'Domestic buildings in Romano-British towns' urges systematic analysis of the data we already have. J Munby (156-66) discusses 'Medieval domestic buildings' and calls for an integrated approach to both standing and excavated buildings. Lawrence Butler (167-76) considers the role of religious houses in urban life in 'Medieval urban religious houses', with attention to economic and political aspects, and not forgetting hospitals. 'Parish churches' are Richard Morris's subject (177-91): he covers ecclesiastical provision in towns, parochial circumstances in new towns, ecclesiastical growth, and strategic aims of research. Gustav Milne (192-200) treats 'Waterfront archaeology in British towns', under the heads of waterfront reclamation, structures, nautical archaeology, river and sealevel change, and trade-industry-waterfront buildings. Finally, Alan Vince (201-13) explains recent developments in 'The study of pottery from urban excavations'. |
