Society for Medieval Archaeology Newsletter Issue 38 September 2007 ISSN 1740-7036

EDITORIAL 2. Medieval landscapes, buildings and material All comments, reports and news to Gabor culture (12.00-13.00; 14.00-15.15) Thomas, Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AB, This session outlines developments in approaches to Email: [email protected] medieval landscape, buildings and material culture, addressing themes of daily life, the household and ‘Fifty Years of Medieval Archaeology’ landscape reconstruction. 12.00: Steve Rippon (University of Exeter): Culminating a year-long series of events to Understanding the Medieval Landscape mark the 50th anniversary of the Society for Medieval Archaeology, a one-day 12.30: Else Roesdahl (University of Aarhus): Housing symposium is to be held at The Society of culture in Scandinavian perspective Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, on Saturday 8th December. 13.00-14.00 Lunch Attendance at the conference, lunch and the 14.00: Geoff Egan (Museum of London): Material evening reception are free to members of culture: household and daily life the Society, and to graduate students; otherwise there is a conference registration 14.30 David Hinton (University of Southampton): fee of £20.00 (to include lunch and Medieval people and their identities attendance at the evening reception) for non-members. 15.00 Discussion A booking form is included as an insert in 15.15-15.45: Coffee/tea this edition of the Newsletter; it can also be downloaded direct from the website. 3. Medieval health and diet (15.45-17.15) Places at the conference are limited to the first This series of papers reviews recent scientific 100 applicants so book early to avoid developments in the study of human and animal remains, disappointment! DNA and isotopes to address new evidence for medieval health, diet and migration. Preliminary timetable 15.45: Charlotte Roberts (University of Durham): Health 1. Fifty years of Medieval Archaeology (10.00-11.30) and welfare in Medieval England: the human skeletal remains contextualised This session will address key developments over fifty years of medieval archaeology, taking a comparative 16.15: Gundula Müldner (University of Reading): regional perspective. Reconstructing medieval diet by stable isotope analysis of human remains 10.00: Chris Gerrard (University of Durham): Understanding traditions and contemporary approaches: 16.45: Naomi Sykes (University of Nottingham): the development of medieval archaeology in Britain Animals, the bones of medieval society

10.30: Andrea Augenti (University of Bologna): 4. Plenary lecture: (17.15 – 18.00) Medieval archaeology in Italy David Wilson: Fifty years of the Society for Medieval 11.00: Florin Curta (University of Florida): Medieval Archaeology archaeology in south-eastern Europe 18.00 Wine reception: award of first John Hurst 11.30- 12.00: Coffee/tea dissertation prize

www.medievalarchaeology.org COMMENT with Duncan Brown The winners of each separate league might A while ago I submitted a costing for a then come together to slug it out for the small pottery job, only to be told that my annual title of champion archaeological day rate was higher than that quoted for a specialism! report on the iron objects. My natural response was that the iron specialist was There will be a myriad of details to work under-valuing himself, and I still hold this out of course, in order to remove potential to be true – he is eminent in his field and bias and so forth. I envisage some sort of should be asking for a lot more. The manual with which project managers would episode set me thinking along different have to become familiar, akin to the lines, however, because there seemed to be Duckworth-Lewis method of calculating an implication that working on iron objects the runs required in rain-affected one-day was more important than working on the cricket matches, and an independent panel pottery. This may, of course, be related to of adjudicators may also be needed from the relative scarcity of those who specialise time to time. The technicalities would mean in iron, while we ceramicists are obviously little to avid supporters of this new pastime far more common. There may be league however, and the actual benefits in terms of tables of specialists, at least subliminally, driving down project costs, albeit at the but I really don’t want to speculate on this, expense of some people’s livelihoods, make if only because I’d rather not discover how this a sure-fire hit. Now then, what do I dangerously I might be flirting with need to know about gold and silver? relegation.

More interesting, I think, is the possibility CONFERENCES & EVENTS of a league table of specialisms, where iron seems to be higher than pottery, and coins “The Very Best Sort of Earthenware”: perhaps higher still. If such a table were to Cistercian and Midlands Purple Ware be constructed, one could then work out from Ticknall, South Derbyshire how much each specialist deserved to be 27.10.07 remunerated! What a fabulously simple Sharpe's Pottery Museum, West Street, system for the exploitation of freelance Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9DG archaeologists! This conference and study day aims to highlight the Cistercian and Midlands Each separate archaeological project would Purple wares manufactured at Ticknall as probably generate a separate table, because well as exploring our current state of if there are only a few bits of animal bone, knowledge of these wares. A display of then the faunal remains might be knocked Ticknall pottery will be available for down a few places, below even the pottery. viewing and attendees are invited to bring A global table might be possible, however, along examples of Cistercian and Midlands as a composite of all the site-specific ones. Purple ware for display and discussion. It could even be published every year in Speakers include: Janet Spavold and Sue Medieval Archaeology, if every project Brown, Anne Boyle, Julie Edwards, David appearing in the annual gazetteer submits Barker, Ian Rowlandson, John Hudson and an individual table to feed into the final one. Alan Vince. Tickets: £13.50, buffet lunch £6 Contact: Dr Anne Boyle, Archaeological There could also be some sort of related Project Services, The Old School, Cameron knockout competition between disciplines. Street, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Finds would have their own league table, NG34 9RW Details on the conference and survey techniques another and we could go venue are available at: on in similar vein for other specialist www.medievalpottery.org and activities such as illustration and www.sharpes.org.uk/ photography, conservation and so on.

Sculpture and Archaeology: New will include the cultural landscape of Perspectives on Carved Stone warfare, the geographical context of civil 02.11.07-04.11.07 defence structures, military Sherwell Centre, University of Plymouth communications and logistics, warfare and state formation, the social and This conference aims to open up a truly administrative infrastructure of defence. interdisciplinary approach to sculpture, Confirmed speakers include: Richard Abels; drawing upon the perspectives of John Baker; Stuart Brookes; Juan Antonio archaeologists, art historians, conservators Quiros Castillo; Julio Escalona; Peter Ettel; and those with practical experience of David Hill; Lena Holmquist-Olausson; working stone. Addressing the close Michael Olausson; David Parsons; Andrew relationship between sculpture and Reynolds; Dorn van Dommelen; Gareth archaeology the conference seeks to explore Williams; Barbara Yorke; and chairs: the diverse ways in which carved stone has Stefan Brink and Nicholas Brooks. been interpreted and posit new ideas based For further details of the conference and an upon recent research. application form, please visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/project/beyond Papers focus on the archaeology of -burghal/conference/index.htm or contact stonecarving techniques; perceptions of Landscapes of Defence Project, Institute of sculpture within archaeology and art history; Name Studies, School of English Studies, the role of sculpture in the establishment of University of Nottingham, University Park, museum collections; sculpture in the Nottingham, NG7 2RD, , landscape; the influence of ancient or email: [email protected] sculpture on the art and artists of the 19th and 20th centuries; the conservation of sculpture; markets for sculpture and Call for papers: The BT@ the BM: New forgeries; and new theories on medieval Research on the Bayeux Tapestry sculpture and dressed stone. An international conference at the British Museum Full programme details and further 15.07.08-16.07.08 information: University of Plymouth, School of Humanities, Department of Art The Bayeux Tapestry has attained near History website: iconic status. Although extremely well www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=7863 known, because it depicts one of the most For further information contact Dr Theresa famous events in English history and the Oakley: [email protected] or subject of numerous studies, many aspects Dr Alex Woodcock: of the Tapestry remain contentious - even [email protected] enigmatic.

In recent years there has been increased Landscapes of Defence in the Viking Age: interest in the Tapestry and further Anglo-Saxon England and comparative advances in our understanding of it, with perspectives scholars examining how, where and why it 09.11.07-10.11.07 was made, questioning its reliability and UCL, Institute of Archaeology value as a historical source, and excavating Warfare and power, as we know from its hidden meanings. contemporary events, play an important role in the formation of state institutions The purpose of this conference is to and their manifestation in material culture highlight recent and new research on the and landscape. The conference will bring Tapestry, and to disseminate those findings together international experts from various to a wider audience, in the hope of disciplines to discuss key issues in the furthering discussion, debate and the defence of territories during the period of sharing of ideas about this unique textile. the Viking incursions of the late eighth to eleventh centuries. Themes to be covered Submissions Submissions are invited on any aspect of A day symposium 'The Future of the Bayeux Tapestry that advances current Medieval Archaeology' is to be held at knowledge. Papers should be no longer than the Institute of Archaeology, University 20 minutes. It is hoped the conference College London on Saturday proceedings will be published. 3rd May 2008. Submissions, outlining the nature of the proposed paper and no longer than 200 The event is intended as an opportunity words, and a short biography, should be to reflect on the position of the sent to Dr Michael Lewis, Deputy Head, discipline in view of the ongoing 50th Department of Portable Antiquities & anniversary celebrations and to consider Treasure, British Museum, London, WC1B how and in what directions medieval 3DG. Email: [email protected] archaeology may by 31 October 2007. develop in future. Please note the British Museum cannot cover speaker’s expenses Further details will be available shortly on the Society's web site. Call for Papers: Diaspora and the Natural World - Leeds International Medieval Conference 2008 SPOTLIGHT ON RESEARCH session sponsored by the Society of Medieval Archaeology Revealing the Lost Medieval Abbey of Scone: MASS Project 2007 Medieval Europe witnessed far-ranging A team of archaeologists from Glasgow movements of both peoples and ideas; from University have located the remains of Barbarian invasions to the Crusades and the lost abbey of Scone where Scottish from Paganism to the expansion of Kings were inaugurated and medieval and Islam. The impact of these parliaments held. The breakthrough was movements on the ‘Natural World’, both made through the use of geophysical physical and perceived, was many and survey in the grounds of Scone Palace varied. Understanding their significance has this July. The Moothill and Abbey of the potential to reveal much about the Scone Survey (MASS) Project, co- groups responsible for them. This session directed by Oliver O’Grady (University seeks to showcase new archaeological of Glasgow) and Peter Yeoman (working research – whether scientific or in a private capacity), was commenced theoretically-based – into the ecological this year to complete a focused season of and/or ideological changes that survey at the core of Scone Palace Estate accompanied the diasporas of the medieval using remote sensing techniques. period. Scone, with its Moothill and monastery, The session has been conceived as a forum was at the centre of kingship and for both established and early-career ecclesiastical power in medieval , academics; we would like to encourage possessing a powerful cultural post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers significance as the place of inauguration to present their work, either orally or as a of the Kings of Scots. The site may have poster. We are particularly keen to attract originated as a Pictish power centre speakers who have adopted inter- within the territory of Gowrie, even disciplinary approaches. before the time of the Scots and the when royal assemblies To register an interest in this session or to were held on the Moot Hill from at least submit a presentation/poster abstract please the 10th century. By 1120 a royal abbey contact Naomi Sykes: was established as befitting this great [email protected] ceremonial centre, which housed the Deadline for abstracts 14th September Stone of Destiny. The Palace and lands were granted to the Murrays by James VI/I in 1606. Destruction at the results was such that individual buttress Reformation, combined with quarrying of features were clearly identifiable along the abbey for stone for the Palace and the the northern wall of the nave and around nearby town, culminated with the creation the footprint of what appears to be the of the designed landscape in the 18th and northern transept. The results were 19th centuries. This resulted in the confirmed by both the magnetic and wholesale altering of the historic site, so resistivity survey, and most clearly by a that at present nothing of the abbey is radar time slice. More subtle anomalies visible standing above ground and the were also identified which appear to Moothill survives incorporated within the derive from elements of the cloister and gardens of Scone Palace. It is eastern range of the abbey. Compelling extraordinary that such an important place findings were also made from survey on has left so little trace on the surface. and around the Moothill mound. An anomaly around the base of the mound is Much of the project’s efforts have been thought to be indicative of a massive in- put into reconstructing the form of the filled ditch. This is the most forceful lost medieval landscape of Scone. The evidence yet that the Moothill mound 2007 fieldwork followed on from an visible today respects the site of the initial smaller-scale season of geophysical historic royal assembly mound, although survey undertaken in 2005 which excavation would be required to confirm examined the environs of the famous this assertion. Details of these findings Moothill mound as part of Mr O’Grady’s also suggest that the form of the mound PhD research into the archaeology of has been considerably augmented medieval places of assembly in Scotland. throughout the extended history of the The MASS project aims to expand upon site. the findings of this pilot survey; to assess the survival of buried archaeology of the The project proved popular with the lost medieval abbey of Scone, examine Palace visitors, all of whom were given a the archaeology of the Moothill, and to free leaflet explaining the project and the seek an understanding of the spatial strange contraptions being used to ‘scan’ relationship between the abbey and the ground. The team were also happy to assembly mound. The Glasgow team was provide ‘live’ interpretation. This leaflet supported by a group of five experienced was kindly funded and produced by the volunteers from the Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust. The Heritage Trust, who were trained in project also attracted considerable media archaeological remote sensing, with Erica interest. Utsi of Utsi Electronics Ltd assisting with the tuition in ground penetrating radar.

This year’s fieldwork, funded in part by a research grant from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, investigated key areas east of the Palace, the Moothill, and the neighbouring graveyard. Gradiometry, resistivity and radar survey were employed with detailed sampling strategies to provide clear resolution of results at different depths beneath the surface. The research strategy proved successful during the first week of the two week season, with the emergence of a series of pronounced anomalies suggestive of the partial floor-plan of what is likely to be the latest phase of the abbey church. The resolution of the Taken together the results from the 2007 material culture and identity (Letty Ten survey have considerably enhanced our Harkel and Ben Jervis), settlement and understanding of the medieval spatial studies (Rebbecca Boyd), ecclesiastical and royal landscape of landscape and identity (Kirsten Jarrett Scone. The results have given the first and Gill Boazman), boundaries (Andrew clear window into the extent to which Ferrero), the use and interpretation of significant in-situ archaeological remains textual evidence (Timothy Jones and survive and have laid a solid foundation Oliver Reuss), and broader themes of for future investigations. Further theory and interpretation in early fieldwork is planned for 2008, yet to be medieval archaeology (Andy Seaman and confirmed in discussions with the Sue Content). The papers were of a very Mansfield Estate. The project is high standard, and often stimulated supported by the Hunter Archaeological lengthy debates (particularly the Late Trust, the Society of Antiquaries of Antique papers). A small ‘symposium Scotland, the Russell Trust, Glasgow review’ containing all the papers abstracts, University Department of Archaeology, and a general discussion is currently the Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, and being prepared, and will be published by the Mansfield Estate. through the Cardiff University School of History and Archaeology later his autumn. Oliver O’Grady University of Glasgow The first day of the symposium ended with a field trip and guided tour of Cosmeston Medieval Village, this was NEWS & VIEWS followed by a ‘cawl and welsh cakes’ drinks reception which was very kindly sponsored by the Society for Medieval EMASS: Cardiff University May 2007 Archaeology, and held in a reconstructed The Early Medieval Archaeology Student medieval barn (special thanks to my Symposium (EMASS), held at the Cardiff brother who had the task of preparing School of History and Archaeology May forty portions of cawl from scratch). The 17th-18th 2007, was organised to provide a field trip, reception, and subsequent trip forum in which post-graduate students to the pub proved to be almost as lively could present, discuss, and debate their forums for debate as the symposium itself, research with other researchers and and a good time was had by all. academics. The symposium generated a tremendous response; a total of seventeen At a small meeting held amongst the papers were presented and the symposium speakers and delegates on the morning on was attended by nearly fifty delegates. the second day, it was agreed that EMASS should not be a one-off, and a Speakers were invited to present on topics follow-up event called PREMASS is of their choice. This relaxed attitude being organised for 2008 at Exeter brought about an ecletic mix of papers University by Imogen Wood and Simon by speakers from many different Foote: specialities based in universities both in www.sogaer.ex.ac.uk/archaeology/confer Britain and Ireland. The papers spanned ences/present/premass2008.shtml the entire early medieval period, as well as overlapping with the late-Roman and A website which will host information on medieval periods. The papers addressed a up-coming PREMASS events, as well as diverse series of themes which included: the review publication and an email the archaeology of ‘Late Antiquity’ (Rob discussion list has also been constructed Collins, James Gerrard, and Nick Wells), by Letty Ten Harkel at Sheffield interpretation in the field (Herdis University Hølleland and Joseph Reeves), death and www.premass.group.shef.ac.uk/. burial (Lizzy Craig, Adrian Maldonado, Andy Seaman David Klingle, and Bradley Hull), Cardiff University Two Women and a Boat or a novel The above and other perceptions approach to engendering the Sutton permitting on the shattering importance of Hoo excavations the discovery (which continues to unfold in our own time) it struck me that the The Dig is the recently published novel novel’s main concern is not primarily a by John Preston. It centres on the detailed account of the archaeological discovery and excavation of the Sutton process. As the author states in his Hoo ship burial in 1939 and is a pithily endnote: ‘Certain changes have been eloquent and elegant series of interwoven made for dramatic effect’. The dramatic character portraits of some of the effects sought include the telescoping of protagonists and their roles in the dig. time and events to heighten the tension Arranged chronologically, it splits the and the narrative clarification of character months April to September 1939 into five and motivation. Perhaps most noticeable chapters and a prologue. Each chapter is of these is the conflation of the also assigned to a particular character and preliminary 1938 season into the 1939 so told in their voice: (two season and a playing down of the results chapters and the prologue; 62 pages), garnered from the first two mounds, along (two chapters; 66 pages) and with an exaggeration of the class issue as Peggy Piggott (one chapter, 83 pages). played out around Basil and C W Phillips The book concludes with an epilogue set who took over as site director. In reality, in 1965, with excavations about to Basil’s own diary1 makes it clear that he recommence, and told in the voice of was happy to work with Phillips and that Robert Pretty, Edith’s grown son. The he continued to excavate under Phillip’s novel successfully conveys (particularly direction (though not in the burial through Basil’s characterisation) the chamber itself). Perhaps more crucially context and excitement of the excavation, the drama-heightening changes underlie as well as its dangers. These are both the novel’s class and gender politics. It physical – a collapse of mound 3 buries took me some mulling over to realise that and almost kills Basil – and material – at the book was not seeking to expand our one point an excavated mass of leather is understanding of as placed in a bucket of water, unfurling to archaeology but of archaeology as social reveal a shoe or sandal, only to utterly practice. It is a perceptive discourse on disintegrate on removal from the water. English class behaviour and an attempt to The story also has a nice feel for the retrospectively give a voice to those seeming-chaos of some museum storage. deemed to be socially inferior through When Basil starts to find the boat rivets, their class or gender. It particularly unsure what they are he races on his allows its women to tell their stories. The bicycle to Aldeburgh Museum to look at book’s four voices are balanced – two similar examples from Snape. The men and two women – but the weight contents of the m museum are stacked up does go with the female voices of Edith from floor to ceiling against all walls and Pretty, the landowner, and Peggy Piggott, one drawer haphazardly contains ‘Bronze a junior member of the excavation team. Age arrowheads, half-hunter watches, Initially Peggy is chosen because she is anti-corrosion percussion powder and married to Phillips’ protégé Stuart Piggott several packets of mustard seed and partly because her much slighter, apparently from the Garden Tomb in feminine body mass (likened to a juvenile Jerusalem.’ Such once natural and boy) is deemed less threatening to and a sometimes exciting juxtapositions would biddable tool on the delicate stratigraphy. today (where museum storage remains a Peggy is only on site for a month and so woefully under-resourced area) be termed gets one chapter, but hers is the longest works of (conceptual) art. The tension chapter of the book. The Piggott’s between local/regional museums (in this marriage ended in the mid 1950s and case Ipswich) and the British Museum Peggy, of course, went on to be a over excavation and finds ownership is renowned archaeologist as Margaret also powerfully conveyed. Guido, doyen of bead studies. Although there are other novels that deal 3. The poem appears in at least two with pivotal excavations (e.g. Peter collections: U A Fanthorpe Collected Ackroyd’s The Fall of Troy, about Poems 1976-2003 (Peterloo Books) Schliemann’s excavations) The Dig’s and in A Thwaite (ed.) 2006 The class and gender issues within the context Ruins of Time Antiquarian and of early medieval studies suggest that it is Archaeological Poems (Eland Books). better compared with Angus Wilson’s 1956 novel, Anglo-Saxon Attitudes2. Indexing Medieval Archaeology Wilson, of course, worked at the British Few readers of this Newsletter will have Museum for a while and helped with the read the last 25 volumes of Medieval concealing of some of its treasures in a Archaeology from cover to cover, but disused tube station during World War II having just completed my fifth 5-year (including finds from Sutton Hoo). index, to volumes 46–50, I can make this Similarly we should take note of another boast. exploration of Sutton Hoo, one that could have readily inspired The Dig, namely U I began indexing the journal in 1985, A Fanthorpe’s poem Unfinished taking over from Ann Morley, and have Chronicle3. In 63 lines, laid out in two worked with three Hon. Editors, David chronological parts, it succinctly and Hinton, Harold Mytum and John Hines. movingly interweaves Basil’s campaign The first index was compiled on with the looming shadow of war in handwritten cards, but since then I have Europe and the pithy observations of Mrs used the Macrex indexing program,(1) Pretty’s gardener. which copes with the drudgery (for instance, sorting into alphabetical order ‘… The winds of that year blew Redwald’s flaked bones and ensuring consistent punctuation and Over the fields of his kingdom. Gold leaf also spacing) and leaves the indexer free to Floated away in that weather… concentrate on the more intellectual In this year also the men of Germany aspects of the job. Marched into Poland, and they held it. …’ Any index is something of a ragbag of Mark A Hall miscellaneous information, especially a Perth Museum & Art Gallery journal such as Medieval Archaeology which ranges widely in time and place and covers many aspects of archaeology. Notes The same places and topics may be discussed from different angles, and the 1. See for example R Bruce Mitford, indexer has to bring this material together ‘Basil Brown’s Diary of the and arrange it in a helpful way. Indexers excavations at Sutton Hoo in 1938 need an element of imagination in order and 1939’, in Bruce-Mitford 1974 to anticipate the needs of a variety of Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology, readers from whom they receive little or Sutton Hoo and Other Discoveries, no feedback. As David Crystal has London, p. 141-69 and see also written: ‘From a communicative point of Bruce-Mitford et al 1975 The Sutton view, there is probably no more isolated Hoo Ship-Burial Volume I, London, intellectual task than indexing.’(2) Before esp. Ch. II and II (the 1938 and 1939 making an index entry I ask myself: excavations) and Ch XII (C W Philips would anyone look this up, and if they did excavation diary). would they find anything useful? 2. Anglo-Saxon Attitudes is readily available as a Penguin paperback. Its Synonymous and related terms must be collecting politics are discussed by M connected by cross-references. This A Hall in S Pearce et al 2002 The demands good subject knowledge, as Collectors Voice: Cultural Readings different authors may use different in the Practice of Collecting Vol 3 terminology. For example, you have to Imperial Voices, Aldershot, p. 269-82. know that an SFB is a sunken-featured building, that Grubenhaus is an MedArch: A Dedicated Medieval alternative term, but that a souterrain, Archaeology Email List although it sounds similar, is actually MedArch is a new discussion forum for something quite different. Medieval Archaeology. It aims to encourage a holistic (diachronic, Several well-known sites are potential interdisciplinary and cross-cultural) traps: Buittle Castle or Botel Castle? approach to the subject - and to link Should Wenlock Priory go under W or researchers and students in the under Much Wenlock? Every British academic and professional place-name is given its local authority archaeological communities. The list is area in the index, requiring careful open to checking in areas where there have been all and can be joined by visiting extensive changes, such as the old county http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/med of Glamorgan. Personal names sometimes arch.html or by contacting James need checking too: in the latest index Barrett ([email protected]) or Neil Price Tuukka Talvio looked unlikely but was ([email protected]). correct, while one author appeared variously as Gilles and Giles; both problems were easily solved from the internet, which has largely replaced the NEW BOOKS local reference library for checking information. Online resources like the Hereford City Excavations Volume 4: Archaeology Data Service catalogue(3) Further Sites and Evolving Interpretations are invaluable. Edited by Alan Thomas and Andy Boucher. 205pp, b/w figs, pls, tbs, published by the It is a challenge to maintain consistent Logaston Press (2002). ISBN-13: 978-1- coverage in one 5-volume index, let alone 873827-18-5. Publishers price GB £24.95, five. I have my own thesaurus of subject Oxbow Price GB £12.95. headings compiled specifically for Medieval Archaeology and constantly Ron Shoesmith’s landmark publications checked against the thesauri of appraising the results of excavations archaeological objects and monument undertaken in Hereford city in the 1960s types now available on the English and 70s will be familiar to many members. Heritage website.(4) New headings are They provide what still represents one of frequently added, reflecting the the most striking archaeological development of the discipline and new visualisations of the long-term evolution of research interests: for example, medieval town defences stretching back to ‘landscape history and archaeology’ first the mid 9th century associated with some of appeared in the index to volumes 31–35, the earliest evidence of planned urban ‘linear earthworks’ in 36–40, ‘spatial initialisation in Late Anglo-Saxon England. analysis’ and ‘productive sites’ in 41–45, The current volume pulls together the and in the latest index ‘special deposits’, results of a subsequent generation of ‘characterization’ – and even ‘eBay’! archaeological work undertaken between 1976 and 1990, encompassing sites largely Ann Hudson M.A. confined to the north-east and north-west Fellow of the Society of Indexers sectors of the town, a small number of [email protected] which lie inside the circuit of the Late Saxon burgh. Based upon the small-scale, Notes piecemeal evaluations which have come to define urban archaeology of the PPG16 era, 1. www.macrex.com this report is, as the authors themselves 2. The Indexer, Vol. 19 No. 3, April acknowledge in their introduction, very 1995, p. 153. much a product of its time. Nevertheless, 3. http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/ marshalled collectively, the results of these 4. http://thesaurus.english- interventions have helped to fill gaps in heritage.org.uk/ understanding and to refine the remarkably medieval urban origins. It is to the authors’ resilient model of urban growth first laid considerable credit that the results of such down by Shoesmith nearly thirty years ago. work can, through their sustained effort at integration and synthesis, make a Within the period covered by this report, meaningful contribution to our opportunities for investigating the Late understanding of the city’s past. Saxon burgh have been few and far between, and consequently relatively little new can be said about the nature and NEW WEB RESOURCES development of the early (Period 1 and 2) defences, save for topographic discussion Of interest to members is a new website of (pp 184-6) on the extent to which the medieval images recently launched by the southern circuit relied upon the River Wye. University of Cambridge (Department of Perhaps most revealing is the negative English) entitled Medieval Imaginations: evidence afforded by recent interventions at literature and visual culture in the Middle Deen’s Court, located in the south-western Ages: www.english.cam.ac.uk/medieval/ corner of the late Saxon defences, and other intra-mural sites. This work confirms the Partly funded by the British Academy, the impression that, in common with other Late site organises images around episodes from Saxon burghs such as Cricklade, sizeable the mystery play cycles from ‘Abraham and areas within the defensive circuit remained Isaac’ to ‘The Visitation’. A dimension unoccupied, emphasising the strongly which will particularly appeal to defensive character of their initial phases. archaeologists is the broad range of media covered, to quote from the website: Inevitably, the majority of recent excavation has followed in the wake of ‘Images have been selected to represent the housing and amenity development located rich diversity of artistic forms and media, on the periphery of the medieval core. including painting, stained glass, alabaster, With it has come the first glimpses of extra- textiles, and sculpture. Images were the mural expansion, with excavations in the books of all those who could not read in the north-west sector on the site of Tesco , and through 'Medieval providing confirmation of Late Saxon Imaginations' you can reconstruct (10th-11th-century) occupation and something of the visual culture that once interventions to the south of the river Wye surrounded medieval people and gave (Sack Warehouse), recovering evidence for meaning to their world’. industrial activity - ironworking and pottery manufacture - sited within the medieval suburb of St Martin’s. Beside analytical SOCIETY NEWS reports on finds and environmental evidence, Ron Shoesmith (with Richard Society Trip to Estonia! Morriss) maintains a presence with an The Society for Medieval Archaeology in important essay on the construction and association with the Finnish Antiquarian afterlife of the late medieval defences as Society is proud to announce an excursion divulged from a comparative analysis of to Estonia, to take place between 25th to 29th archaeological and historical/pictorial April 2008. sources. The volume concludes with a chapter which moves beyond pure synthesis The trip will start off with a guided tour of by presenting a dynamic view of urban Tallinn by Dr Ivar Leimus of the Estonian morphology drawing upon analysis of 1st History Museum. We will then travel by edition Ordnance Survey mapping. coach to Läänemaa and the island of Saaremaa (Ösel-Wiek), where Kaire Viewed individually, the sites upon which Tooming of the Estonian National Heritage this volume is based appear mundane when Board will be our guide to the region’s compared to the large-scale interventions wealth of medieval architecture. which first placed Hereford on the map of Time allowing, it may be possible to also • the evolution of our Medieval Britain visit the Järvamaa area in central Estonia, and Ireland section to well-illustrated before returning to Tallinn. ‘highlights’ only, and the development with the Society for Post-Medieval Further details of the programme and cost Archaeology of a period-base searchable will be announced as soon as possible. online database for other entries, accessible as a ‘Special Collections’ If you are interested in taking part in this feature of Archaeology Data Service’s excursion please contact Katinka Stentoft at: ArchSearch. [email protected] From around December, to celebrate the Society’s 50th anniversary, as a one-off Moving forward: Society Initiatives in 2007 gesture we are making volumes 1-50 Several changes have been initiated in this, accessible through the ADS. Volumes 44 our anniversary year. In case you missed onwards will also be available on secure notice of them, here they are again: access through IngentaConnect, a provider of access to publications online that are • electronic access to Medieval fully searchable and include linked Archaeology (see Hon. Editor’s report references via the Cross Ref system. We below) will be able to include more colour • new look Medieval Britain & Ireland illustrations in the online version of the (see Hon. Editor’s report below) journal than we are able to publish in the • launch of new website: journal. Current members of the Society for www.medievalarchaeology.org Medieval Archaeology will be able to view • launch of the Martin Jope Award these issues free of charge as part of their for article judged to display the best membership. In the autumn of each year novel interpretation, application of Maney will contact all current members analytical method or presentation of direct with a unique access code and details findings on how to get access. This privilege will be • launch of the John Hurst Award for the removed if you lapse or cancel your best undergraduate dissertation in membership! medieval archaeology Volume 52 (2009) will herald further changes to the journal’s house-style, most Changes to the Journal notably the introduction of Harvard With Volume 51 of the journal (published references within footnotes. late November 2007) you will hopefully notice a few changes. A one-off editorial As ever, please do get in touch, not least if will explain these, but the things to look out you want to discuss a potential contribution for include: to Medieval Archaeology. We welcome original submissions of international • announcement of new Associate Editors significance, or national significance and of • more colour illustrations (to celebrate international interest, which match the our 50th anniversary) objectives of the Society. We seek a balance of material by date and region, and • announcement of the first Martyn Jope are particularly keen to see more European Award material, synthetic articles and debates • the introduction of article abstracts in submitted. We’d be interested to hear from French, German and Italian people who might be prepared to produce a • we no longer carry news, for which see review of coverage of medieval this newsletter and our website archaeology in foreign language periodicals,

for instance.

Sally M. Foster, Hon. Editor

www.maney.co.uk/journals/ma THE SOCIETY FOR MEDIEVALARCHAEOLOGY MONOGRAPH SERIES Innovative and international publications on medieval archaeology

Excavations at Launceston Castle Edited by A Saunders Monograph 24 This monograph focuses on Launceston Castle which occupies a dominant position at the end of a ridge commanding the strategic crossing of the River Tamar separating Cornwall from Devon. www.maney.co.uk/books/sma24

Able Minds and Practised Hands: Scotland’s Early Medieval Sculpture in the 21st Century Edited by Sally M Foster and Morag Cross Monograph 23 The 26 essays in this volume exemplify the ever- diversifying, interdisciplinary approaches that are being taken to the study of early medieval sculpture. www.maney.co.uk/books/sma23

Town and Country in the Middle Ages: Contrasts, Contacts and Interconnections Edited by Kate Giles and Christopher Dyer Monograph 22 The papers in this book define the differences between town and country, compare the two ways of life, trace the interconnecting links between townspeople and country dwellers, and show how they interacted and influenced one another. www.maney.co.uk/books/sma22

Excavations at Hulton Abbey, Staffordshire 1987–1994 W D Klemperer and N Boothroyd Monograph 21 Hulton Abbey was a minor Cistercian monastery in north Staffordshire (England), founded in 1219 and finally dissolved in 1538. This is the final report on the archaeological excavations undertaken there between 1987 and 1994. www.maney.co.uk/books/hultonabbey

For further information or to subscribe online please visit: www.maney.co.uk/series/smam