Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History

Introduction to the special volume looking at discoveries, methods and theories in early medieval mortuary archaeology, interpretation, debating death and identity, burial rites and artefacts, monuments and landscape, excavation reports, wider context, public archaeology of early medieval graves and ethical debates.

In this paper the author tries to bridge the sophisticated approaches used by historians with an archaeological approach to ethnicity and identity. The paper concludes that the evidence suggests that early medieval ethnicity in the late half of the fifth and first half of the sixth century indicates a highly complex network of identities, ranging from the super-regional to the personal and close ties with other aspects of social structure.

The aim of the paper is to set out some preliminary arguments from ongoing research on the application of theories of memory to early medieval mortuary practices. Firstly, the paper discusses the ways in which researchers have previously defined social memory, before attempting a working definition suitable for the study. Secondly, the paper will examine how objects, and specifically portable grave goods, have a part to play in the processes of social memory in a mortuary context. Finally, the paper suggests some ways in which ideas presented in the paper might inform our understanding of early Anglo-Saxon burial practices. The ideas in the paper are expanded upon in the author's doctoral thesis.

This paper starts with a review of toilet implements from a selection of inhumation cemeteries from across England before demonstrating the contrasting character of toilet items found in broadly contemporary cremation rites. Through the analysis the author argues that the contrast between the rites indicates a limited significance for inhumation rites, but central importance for toilet implements in Early Anglo-Saxon cremation rites.

Paper assessing the evidence for post-burial disturbances of the deceased in early medieval cemeteries in Wessex, with particular attention given to the differences between the levels of post-burial disturbances seen in field cemeteries and churchyards, as well as to a consideration of the fate of the displaced human remains, from their deposition in charnel pits to the use of displaced skulls to support the skulls of later burials. The paper also examines the influence of the Church and the re-emergence of urban centres on the changes in the post-burial treatment of the dead during the early medieval period. The paper concludes with a consideration of the evidence for the post-burial treatment of the body with respect to both the views of the Church in the treatment of the deceased and the belief in the literal resurrection of the body.

Article exploring the discursive relationship between texts and material culture in early medieval Wales to illustrate that both texts, graves and monuments formed part of an emerging ideology and practice about the role of burial and commemoration in society from the ninth to eleventh centuries AD.

This paper focuses on the relationships of rural cemeteries to settlements in which they were located. The analysis reveals that Anglo-Saxon cemeteries were often ephemeral features in the rural landscape, probe to abandonment and often given over to domestic occupation or agriculture.

During the late spring and summer of 1999 an archaeological excavation was carried out on c. 1.25ha of land by Herefordshire Archaeological Trust at Minerva Business Park near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. One area produced evidence predominantly of Iron Age date, comprising pits, ditches and a post hole structure. A second area contained an early Anglo-Saxon cemetery with 28 urned and two unurned cremation burials dating to between the fifth and sixth centuries AD and 34 inhumations dating to between the late fifth and early seventh centuries AD. Both types of burial were provided with grave goods, and some of the burials were richly furnished. Includes detailed report on features and specialist reports on the cremated and inhumation skeletal remains, pottery, grave goods, coinage, slag and animal bone. SH