| Abstract: |
Papers from a day school in November 1989, with one extra paper. Alan Pallister (pp 1-8) pays tribute to an avocational archaeologist, who contributed greatly to the study of moated sites and deserted villages, in 'Leslie Still and the origins of medieval settlement archaeology in the Tees Valley'. In 'Air photographic evidence for medieval settlement and land use in the Lower Tees Valley' Blaise Vyner (9-18) briefly reviews the evidence for Cleveland and its hinterland, discussing the pre-medieval background, the medieval landscape itself, and the nature of med settlement; so far there are no grounds for postulating early med nucleated settlement. Barry Harrison (19-31) in 'New settlements in the North Yorkshire Moors 1086-1340' examines the commonly-held view of widespread piecemeal clearance and colonization. That view is not borne out by documentary case studies of three differing areas (Goathland, Farndale and East Bransdale, and Skelton Moors). There was both seigneurial planning and unrestricted assarting by substantial freeholders, but no piecemeal peasant assarting. Robin Daniels (33-57) contributes 'Kilton: a survey of a moorland fringe township', in which air photography, fieldwork and excavation, and map research identified at least four major phases of landscape development; two attempts at nucleation failed and dispersed pattern reimposed itself. 'The deserted village of West Hartburn, third report: excavation of Site D and discussion' is the subject of Alan Pallister & Stuart Wrathmell (59-75): a full descriptive account of the longhouse on Site D is accompanied by reconsideration of Sites A and C and their finds, which indicate occupation from late 13th to early 16th, with a solitary Staxton sherd. Another deserted site is discussed by David Heslop & Alan Aberg (77-106) in 'Excavations at Tollesby, Cleveland, 1972 and 1974': here was recovered information on two house-platforms, one a definite cross-passage house and the other probably similar, of yeoman rather than peasant status. Date span is 11th to late 16th century. A synthetic approach is taken by Brian Roberts (107-25) in 'Back lanes and tofts, distribution maps and time: medieval nucleated settlement in the north of England'. he examines three broad themes: the nature of the evidence of village/hamlet dominated settlement landscapes, the relevance of broader views of settlement patterns provided by classification and regional/national mapping, and problems of establishing secure developmental chronologies. The genetic study of forms plays an important role here. Peter Ryder (127-39) has studied 'Fortified medieval and sub-medieval buildings in the north-east of England', dividing them into those with perimeter defence (eg castles, moats, monastic precincts) and those which are defensible units (eg towers of various kinds, bastles). Much research is still needed, both for individual buildings and for the inter-type relationships. The final paper comes from David Austin (141-50), 'Medieval settlement in the north-east of England - retrospect, summary and prospect'; he identifies and briefly reviews four driving forces of empirical analysis in the region - topographical/ cartographic work, morphology and settlement geography, field survey, and archaeological excavation. All are done piecemeal, and excavation notably fails to deliver useful results! We need proper research designs, truly interdisciplinary studies, contextual analysis, theory testing, and holistic strategies. |
