Alignment and Axiality in Anglo-Saxon Architecture: 6Th-11Th Centuries
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Alignment and Axiality in Anglo-Saxon Architecture: 6th-11th Centuries Anastasia Moskvina Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of East Anglia School of Art, Media and American Studies Submitted: May 2020 Word count: 119,152. Abstract Axial alignment is an intriguing aspect of Anglo-Saxon architecture, which has occupied scholars for some time but has not been researched thoroughly and systematically. This thesis offers an assessment of Anglo-Saxon sites – secular and ecclesiastical – featuring alignment, analyses their recurring features and addresses functional and cultic aspects of these sites. One of the resulting conclusions is that alignment is a fairly uniform phenomenon across both secular and ecclesiastical sites, and in fact secular and ecclesiastical contexts should not be treated as separate. It has also been possible to demonstrate that alignment is an Insular phenomenon and not a result of Continental influence, which challenges the existing research on this subject. Instead, it has been proposed that Anglo-Saxon alignment has its origins in the British Isles and was inspired by a multitude of existing prehistoric linear compositions in the landscape. 2 Access Condition and Agreement Each deposit in UEA Digital Repository is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, and duplication or sale of all or part of any of the Data Collections is not permitted, except that material may be duplicated by you for your research use or for educational purposes in electronic or print form. You must obtain permission from the copyright holder, usually the author, for any other use. Exceptions only apply where a deposit may be explicitly provided under a stated licence, such as a Creative Commons licence or Open Government licence. Electronic or print copies may not be offered, whether for sale or otherwise to anyone, unless explicitly stated under a Creative Commons or Open Government license. Unauthorised reproduction, editing or reformatting for resale purposes is explicitly prohibited (except where approved by the copyright holder themselves) and UEA reserves the right to take immediate ‘take down’ action on behalf of the copyright and/or rights holder if this Access condition of the UEA Digital Repository is breached. Any material in this database has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the material may be published without proper acknowledgement. Contents Introduction 18 Significance of research and research aims 24 Evidence and structure 27 Methodology 30 Limitations 34 Background to this research 37 Historiography of alignment 40 Chapter 1: Introduction to secular case studies 44 Overview of sites 45 7th-century group 45 Post-700 sites 94 Late Anglo-Saxon sites 100 Outcomes for further exploration 114 Borderline sites 120 Chapter 2: Analysis of secular and ‘borderline’ sites 135 1. How did aligned halls function? 136 1.1. Communication and zoning 136 1.2. Specific functions of buildings in settlements with align- 149 ment Ritual and religion 150 Conclusion 167 2. Why aligned? 169 2.1. Influence of heritage and existing topography 170 Roman heritage 170 Prehistoric heritage 173 2.2. Possible influence of Continental architecture? 177 Germanic territories 178 3 Scandinavian settlements 184 3. Final thoughts 189 Chapter 3: Introduction to ecclesiastical case studies 193 7th-century group 197 The Northumbrian group 211 7th-century sites with later alignment 236 Post-700 sites 255 Late Anglo-Saxon sites 264 Outcomes for further exploration 277 Chapter 4: Analysis of ecclesiastical sites 283 1. How did it all work? 283 1.1. Communication and zoning 283 1.2. Individual functions 291 Pilgrimage 292 Funerary 294 Baptismal 295 1.3. Special burials and features 297 2. Why aligned? 302 2.1. Topographical determination 302 2.2. Continental influence? 311 2.3. Liturgy and dedication patterns 327 3. Final thoughts 337 Chapter 5: Summary of observations and prehistoric context 339 1. Alignment in secular and ecclesiastical context – is it the same 339 thing? 1.1. Status 339 Secular sites 340 Ecclesiastical sites 342 Outcomes 346 4 1.2. Chronological development 348 1.3. Other archaeological aspects 350 2. Where did alignment originate? 355 2.1. Prehistoric alignments 355 Roman alignments in Britain 357 Prehistoric alignments in Britain 358 Examples of linearity 359 2.2. Anglo-Saxon alignment as a legacy of prehistoric beliefs 372 Conclusion 375 Appendix 1. Classification and characteristics of sites 379 Appendix 2. Photographs 381 Appendix 3. Alignment and elite status: problems and issues. 385 Bibliography 391 5 List of images, graphs and tables Fig. 1.1. Suggested plans of development of site at Yeavering, from prehistoric to Anglo-Saxon, after Bradley 1987 (fig.1, p. 6). 47 Fig. 1.2. Plan of site at Yeavering, phase IIIc, after Hope-Taylor 1977 (fig. 77, p. 162). 48 Fig. 1.3. Plan of site at Yeavering, phase IV, after Hope-Taylor 1977 (fig. 78, p. 165). 48 Fig. 1.4. Plan of structures and features at Sprouston, after Smith 1991 (fig. 3, facing p. 266). 55 Fig. 1.5. Plan of Anglo-Saxon buildings at Sprouston, after Smith 1991 (fig. 4, facing p. 267). 55 Fig. 1.6. Plan of Thirlings, after O’Brien and Miket 1991 (fig. 2, p. 62). 59 Fig. 1.7. Plan of structures at Chalton, after Addyman et al 1973 (fig. 3, p. 5). 64 Fig. 1.8. Detail of plan of Chalton showing buildings A1 and A2 with a partition between them, after Addyman et al 1973 (fig. 9, facing p. 16). 64 Fig. 1.9. Plan of excavated aligned halls at Lyminge, after Thomas and Knox 2012 (fig. 3, p. 3). 69 Fig. 1.10. Plan of full excavated area at Lyminge, after Thomas and Knox 2015 (fig. 2, p. 2). 69 Fig. 1.11. Plan of site at Bloodmoor Hill, phase 1, after Lucy et al 2009 (fig. 6.35, p. 363). 74 Fig. 1.12. Plan of site at Bloodmoor Hill, phase 2a, after Lucy et al 2009 (fig. 6.36, p. 364). 74 6 Fig. 1.13. Plan of site at Atcham (drawn from an aerial photograph), after St Joseph 1975 (unnumbered, p. 294). 80 Fig. 1.14. Plan of buildings at Cowage Farm, after Hinchliffe 1986 (fig. 1, p. 241). 82 Fig. 1.15. Schematic plan of the site at Drayton/Sutton Courtenay, after Hamerow et al 2007 (fig. 3, p. 112). 85 Fig. 1.16. Schematic plan of timber buildings at Drayton/Sutton Courtenay, after Hamerow et al 2007 (fig. 51, p. 188). 85 Fig. 1.17. Plan of site at Long Wittenham, after Hamerow, Ferguson and Naylor 2013 (fig. 7, p. 64). 88 Fig. 1.18. Plan of structures at Cowdery’s Down, periods 4A and 4B, after Millett and James 1983 (fig. 27, p. 194). 90 Fig. 1.19. Plan of structures at Cowdery’s Down, period 4C, after Millett and James 1983 (fig. 27, p. 194). 91 Fig. 1.20. Plan of ring ditches at Cowdery’s Down, to the south of the area of excavated timber buildings, after Millett and James 1983 (fig. 11, p. 164). 91 Fig. 1.21. Proposed phases of plan of site at Hatton Rock (drawn from aerial photographs), after Rahtz 1970 (fig. 3, p. 141). 94 Fig. 1.22. Plan of Wicken Bonhunt, after Wade 1980 (fig. 38, p. 97). 97 Fig. 1.23. Plan of settlement at Faccombe Netherton in ca 940-980, after Fairbrother 1990 (fig. 3.3., p. 60). 100 Fig. 1.24. Plan of site at Faccombe Netherton in ca 980-1070, after Reynolds 2002 (Fairbrother 1990, fig. 3.5, p. 64). 101 Fig.1.25. Plan of buildings at Sulgrave, after Davison 1977 (fig. 3, p. 110). 104 Fig. 1.26. Plan of Saxon structures at Portchester Castle, after Cunliffe 1976 (fig. 9, p. 34). 106 7 Fig. 1.27. General site plan at Raunds Furnells, after Cadman 1983 (fig. 2, p.110). 109 Fig. 1.28. Plan of Raunds Furnells, 11th c, after Reynolds 2002 (fig. 57, p. 133). 110 Fig. 1.29. Plan of buildings at Cheddar, after Rahtz 1962 (fig. 18, p. 56). 112 Fig. 1.30. Plan of excavated area at Flixborough, phase 3a, after Loveluck and Atkinson 2007 (fig. 2.6, p. 13). 123 Fig. 1.31. Plan of excavated area at Flixborough, phase 3biv, after Loveluck and Atkinson 2007 (fig. 2.10, p. 16). 123 Fig. 1.32. Plan of building 1a at Flixborough, after Loveluck 2007 (fig. 3.3, p. 34). 124 Fig. 1.33. Plan of buildings at Staunch Meadow, phase 2.2, after Tester et al 2014 (fig. 4.23, p. 64). 128 Fig. 1.34. Plan of buildings at Staunch Meadow, phase 2.3, after Tester et al 2014 (fig. 4.50, p. 101). 129 Fig. 1.35. Plan of church 7098 at Staunch Meadow in phase 2.1, after Tester et al 2014 (fig. 4.14, p. 50). 129 Fig. 2.1. Plan of Yeavering with proposed zoning, after Hope-Taylor 1977 (fig. 77, p. 162). 138 Fig. 2.2. Fragment of plan of the site at Flixborough in phase 3a showing alignment, after Loveluck and Atkinson 2007 (fig. 2.6, p. 13). 139 Fig. 2.3. Plan of halls at Cheddar showing alignment, after Rahtz 1962 (fig. 18, p. 56). 140 Fig. 2.4. Plan of site at Cowage Farm, showing alignment and proposed zoning, after Hinchliffe 1986 (fig. 1, p. 241). 141 8 Fig. 2.5. Plan of Cowdery’s Down with proposed zoning, after Millett and James 1983 (fig. 27, p. 194). 142 Fig. 2.6. Plan of Chalton with proposed zoning, after Addyman et al 1973 (fig. 3, p. 5). 143 Fig. 2.7. Plan of Sprouston with proposed zoning, after Smith 1991 (fig.