An Archaeology of the Early Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

278 Pages·1997·3.12 MB·English

by  C. J. Arnold

An Archaeology of the Early Anglo-Saxon
Kingdoms
An Archaeology of the Early Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms has for nearly a decade
been used by students seeking an introduction to the field. In this new, fully
revised edition of Arnold’s essential text all of the key recent finds and
developments in the field of Anglo-Saxon studies have been incorporated. With
an expanded text and an increased number of informative illustrations, C.J.
Arnold confronts the key questions facing students who seek to under-stand how
the foundations of medieval England were laid:
(cid:127) How did kingdoms form out of the chaos of the Dark Ages?
(cid:127) How was it that a deeply superstitio us people came to embrace Christianity?
(cid:127) What was the fate of Britain’s native populations at the hand of invading
peoples?
Firmly basing its arguments upon archaeological evidence, the book intro-duces
students to the fascinating dichotomies of Anglo-Saxon society. It acts both as a
reliable guide to historical fact and as an invaluable introduction to the key
debates currently spurring research in the field.
C.J.Arnold is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and
is a widely regarded authority on Anglo-Saxon and medieval Welsh history. His
numerous previous publications in these fields include Roman Britain to Saxon
England (1984).
An Archaeology of the Early
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
New edition
C.J.Arnold
London and New York
First published 1988
Second edition 1997
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.
“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection
of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group
© 1988, 1997 C.J.Arnold
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Arnold, C.J.
An Archaeology of the Early Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms/C.J.Arnold.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index.
1. Great Britain—History—Anglo-Saxon period. 449–1066.
2. England-Social conditions—To 1066. 3. Excavations
(Archaeology)—England. 4. Anglo-Saxons-Kings and rulers.
5. Archaeology, Medieval. I. Title.
DA152.A76 1997
942.01′5–dc20 96–28369
CIP
ISBN 0-203-97511-1 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-415-15635-1 (hbk)
ISBN 0-415-15636-X (pbk)
iv
For M. and D.
and
M.I.B.
Contents
List of figures viii
List of tables xii
Preface to the first edition xiii
Preface to the revised second edition xiv
Introduction xv
1 A history of early Anglo-Saxon archaeology 1
2 Migration theory 19
3 Farm and field 33
4 Elusive craftspeople 67
Brooches 67
Musical instruments 69
Boats 71
Buildings 72
Helmets 75
Iron tools and weapons 76
Casting 81
Containers 83
Textiles and dress 91
Function 94
5 Exchange 101
Overseas exchange 103
Internal exchange 125
6 The topography of belief 147
vii
7 Mighty kinfolk 173
Identity and status 173
The individual 179
Descent groups 185
8 Kingdoms 207
Bibliography 227
Index 249
Figures
1.1 The title page of Nenia Britannica published in 1793 by the Revd 4
James Douglas
1.2 Grave-goods excavated by Thomas Bateman at Benty Grange, 4
Derbyshire, in 1848, including the remains of a helmet
1.3 An applied saucer brooch from Fairford, Gloucestershire, illustrated 6
by E.T.Leeds in his typological study of 1912
1.4 Plan of a building at Sutton Courtenay, Berkshire, excavated by 7
E.T.Leeds
1.5 Plans of the excavated cemetery and grave 21 at Petersfinger, 8
Wiltshire
1.6 Map showing the distribution of a type of early Anglo-Saxon pottery 11
and its supposed coincidence with battles recorded in the Anglo-
Saxon Chronicle
2.1 Cartoon published by Punch 19
2.2 Map showing the phased distribution of sleeve-fasteners in eastern 25
England
2.3 Map showing the phased distribution of square-headed brooches in 27
the Midlands and eastern England
2.4 Map showing distribution of fifth-century cruciform brooches in 27
east Kent
3.1 Diagram illustrating the resources exploited at the early Anglo- 34
Saxon settlement at Bishopstone, Sussex
3.2 Comparative plans of sunken buildings from early Anglo-Saxon 40
settlements
3.3 Plans of sunken buildings containing textile manufacturing 42
equipment
3.4 Comparative plans of halls from early Anglo-Saxon settlements 42
3.5 Constructional details of buildings from the early Anglo-Saxon 43
settlement at Cowdery’s Down, Hampshire
3.6 Comparative plans of individual farms from early Anglo-Saxon 48
settlements
3.7 Histograms illustrating the different sizes of halls from early Anglo- 53
Saxon settlements by floor area
3.8 Plans of extensively excavated early Anglo-Saxon settlements and 57
cemeteries
3.9 The distribution of cremation and inhumation burials 59
ix
3.10 The distribution of known early Anglo-Saxon settlements in 60
England
3.11 Histogram showing the distances between early Anglo-Saxon 62
settlements and nearest source of water
3.12 Histogram showing the number of early Anglo-Saxon settlements on 64
specified soil-types
4.1 A keystone garnet disc brooch from Faversham, Kent 68
4.2 Reconstruction of a lyre from Bergh Apton, Norfolk 70
4.3 The ship from Sutton Hoo mound 72
4.4 Possible reconstruction of building at Cowdery’s Down, Hampshire 74
4.5 Possible reconstruction of bed from Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire 75
4.6 Possible reconstructions of early Anglo-Saxon shields 78
4.7 Possible methods of shield boss construction 78
4.8 Possible construction method of a pattern-welded sword 80
4.9 A saucer brooch from Fairford, Gloucestershire, and cruciform 81
brooch from Sleaford, Lincolnshire
4.10 Examples of early Anglo-Saxon buckets 85
4.11 Types of glass vessel from early Anglo-Saxon England 88
4.12 The evidence for pottery production at West Stow 89
4.13 Examples of early Anglo-Saxon pottery from West Stow Heath 90
4.14 Numbers of artefacts from the settlement of West Stow and the 97
cemetery at West Stow Heath
5.1 The distribution of amber beads 104
5.2 The distribution of ivory rings 106
5.3 The distribution of rock crystal beads 107
5.4 The distribution of crystal spheres 107
5.5 The distribution of unmounted gold coin in the British Isles and the 108
Continental sources
5.6 The distribution of early Anglo-Saxon balances and weights 112
5.7 An early Anglo-Saxon set of balance, touchstone and weights from 112
Gilton, Kent
5.8 The distribution of amethyst beads 115
5.9 The distribution of wheel-thrown vessels 115
5.10 The distribution of glass vessels 118
5.11 The distribution of blue squat latticed glass jars 119
5.12 The distribution of cowrie shells 121
5.13 Frequency curves for amber beads and glass vessels 121
5.14 The distribution of Sancton-Baston die-groups and suggested 128
sequence of production
5.15 The combinations of dies used to decorate Sancton-Baston urns 129
5.16 The distribution of early Anglo-Saxon whetstones and fall-off 133
curves for greywacké whetstones and Group VI neolithic axes
5.17 Mould fragments from Mucking, Essex 137