Ceramic building materials in early medieval churches in north-western France and south-eastern England : application of luminescence dating to building archaeology
Amongst the dating methods that can contribute to building archaeology, it is the technique of stimulated luminescence applied to ceramic building materials (CBM) that is the focus of this study. The research reported in this thesis concerns the re-evaluation of an archaeological assumption surrounding the origin of CBM used in 9th, 10th and 11th century religious buildings of Normandy, Pays de Loire in France and Kent and Essex in England. Are the bricks used in the masonry structures Roman spolia or a novo productions? Dating techniques were scrutinized through a process of intercomparison work between two luminescence laboratories. This study highlighted the importance of knowing precise details of the sampleâs original environment and the need for close examination of the mineral species used in the dating process. Results from thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating performed on 53 CBM samples from 12 churches of north-west France and south-east England showed that the practice of reusing Roman brick was commonplace in small parish churches, but also that brick/tile-making was not a totally unknown skill of the early medieval craftsmen as has long been supposed. Most
Blain, Sophie Emilie Lea
Ceramic building materials in early medieval churches in north-western France and south-eastern England : application of luminescence dating to building archaeology. Amongst the dating methods that can contribute to building archaeology, it is the technique of stimulated luminescence applied to ceramic building materials (CBM) that is the focus of this study. The research reported in this thesis concerns the re-evaluation of an archaeological assumption surrounding the origin of CBM used in 9th, 10th and 11th century religious buildings of Normandy, Pays de Loire in France and Kent and Essex in England. Are the bricks used in the masonry structures Roman spolia or a novo productions? Dating techniques were scrutinized through a process of intercomparison work between two luminescence laboratories. This study highlighted the importance of knowing precise details of the sampleâs original environment and the need for close examination of the mineral species used in the dating process. Results from thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating performed on 53 CBM samples from 12 churches of north-west France and south-east England showed that the practice of reusing Roman brick was commonplace in small parish churches, but also that brick/tile-making was not a totally unknown skill of the early medieval craftsmen as has long been supposed. Most
ceramic building_material early_medieval church north western france south_eastern england application luminescence_date building archaeology amongst date_method contribute building archaeology technique stimulate luminescence apply ceramic building_material focus study report concern re_evaluation archaeological assumption surround origin use religious_building normandy france kent essex england brick use masonry structure roman spolia production dating technique scrutinize process work luminescence laboratory study_highlight importance know precise detail sample original environment need close_examination mineral specie use date process thermoluminescence optically_stimulate luminescence date perform sample church north west france south_east england show practice reuse roman brick commonplace small parish_church also brick_tile making totally unknown skill early_medieval craftsman long suppose