Cultural transition in East Anglia, c. 350 to c. 650, and the origins of the kingdom of the East Angles
This thesis is a study of the transition from Romano-British to Anglo-Saxon culture in East Anglia from the mid fourth to the mid seventh century, and of the origins of the kingdom of the East Angles. It combines three types of evidence: archaeology, place-names and written sources. It aims to test the validity of this kind of multidisciplinary regional study. The first part of the thesis concerns material culture, and consists of a thorough investigation of the region's archaeological material from the late Roman and early Anglo-Saxon periods, focusing on the latest Romano-British evidence and earliest Germanic evidence. The early Anglo-Saxon-period population is characterised as heterogeneous, and the pays is posited as the most useful way of drawing distinctions within it. The second part looks at the linguistic evidence contained within the region's place-name corpus, and argues for the presence of a significant British element within the early ~Anglo-Saxon~ population. A comparison of the two types of evidence broadly confirms orthodox notions concerning Old English place-name chronology, although substantial intra-regional variation is highlighted. The third part collates evidence for the origins of
Rush, Michael Calvert
DA Great Britain
Cultural transition in East Anglia, c. 350 to c. 650, and the origins of the kingdom of the East Angles. This thesis is a study of the transition from Romano-British to Anglo-Saxon culture in East Anglia from the mid fourth to the mid seventh century, and of the origins of the kingdom of the East Angles. It combines three types of evidence: archaeology, place-names and written sources. It aims to test the validity of this kind of multidisciplinary regional study. The first part of the thesis concerns material culture, and consists of a thorough investigation of the region's archaeological material from the late Roman and early Anglo-Saxon periods, focusing on the latest Romano-British evidence and earliest Germanic evidence. The early Anglo-Saxon-period population is characterised as heterogeneous, and the pays is posited as the most useful way of drawing distinctions within it. The second part looks at the linguistic evidence contained within the region's place-name corpus, and argues for the presence of a significant British element within the early ~Anglo-Saxon~ population. A comparison of the two types of evidence broadly confirms orthodox notions concerning Old English place-name chronology, although substantial intra-regional variation is highlighted. The third part collates evidence for the origins of
cultural_transition east_anglia origin kingdom east study transition romano british anglo saxon culture east_anglia origins kingdom east combine three_type evidence archaeology place_names write_source aim_test validity kind multidisciplinary regional_study first_part concern material_culture consist thorough investigation region archaeological_material late_roman early_anglo saxon_period focus late romano_british evidence early germanic evidence early_anglo saxon_period population characterise heterogeneous pay posit useful way draw_distinction within second_part look linguistic_evidence contain_within region place_name corpus argue presence significant british element_within early_anglo_saxon population comparison two_type evidence broadly confirm orthodox notion concern old_english place_name chronology although substantial intra_regional variation highlight third_part collate evidence origin