Migrations and material culture change in southern and eastern England in the fifth century AD : the investigation of an archaeological discourse
This thesis aims to reassess one of the principal concepts used by archaeologists in their attempts to explain how 'Roman Britain' became 'early medieval England': the Anglo-Saxon migrations (i.e. the movement of people(s) from northern Europe or southern Scandinavia to southern and eastern England in the fifth century AD). This reassessment involves examining two inter-related themes. The first is largely historiographical, the aim being to highlight the socio-political and intellectual contexts in which 'the Anglo-Saxon migrations' became an important discourse. This is achieved by contextualizing both the beginnings of Anglo-Saxon archaeology and the archaeological investigation of 'the migrations' as well as the early historical sources that appear to describe those migrations (why and how were they written and by whom?).The second theme concerns material used by archaeologists to address questions such as: who were the people that migrated; where did they come from and travel to; when did this happen? A reassessment of the theoretical underpinnings of those archaeolological approaches is presented. Building on that, an analysis of several brooches types - material that has often been said to be significant
Harrison, Geoffrey James
Migrations and material culture change in southern and eastern England in the fifth century AD : the investigation of an archaeological discourse. This thesis aims to reassess one of the principal concepts used by archaeologists in their attempts to explain how 'Roman Britain' became 'early medieval England': the Anglo-Saxon migrations (i.e. the movement of people(s) from northern Europe or southern Scandinavia to southern and eastern England in the fifth century AD). This reassessment involves examining two inter-related themes. The first is largely historiographical, the aim being to highlight the socio-political and intellectual contexts in which 'the Anglo-Saxon migrations' became an important discourse. This is achieved by contextualizing both the beginnings of Anglo-Saxon archaeology and the archaeological investigation of 'the migrations' as well as the early historical sources that appear to describe those migrations (why and how were they written and by whom?).The second theme concerns material used by archaeologists to address questions such as: who were the people that migrated; where did they come from and travel to; when did this happen? A reassessment of the theoretical underpinnings of those archaeolological approaches is presented. Building on that, an analysis of several brooches types - material that has often been said to be significant
material_culture change southern eastern_england investigation archaeological_discourse aim_reassess one_principal concept use archaeologist attempt_explain roman_britain become early_medieval england anglo_saxon migration movement people northern_europe southern_scandinavia southern eastern_england reassessment involve examine inter_related theme first largely historiographical aim_highlight socio_political intellectual_context the anglo_saxon migration become_important discourse achieve contextualizing beginning anglo_saxon archaeology archaeological_investigation the migration well early historical_source appear describe migration write the second theme_concern material use archaeologist address_question people migrate come travel happen reassessment theoretical underpinnings approach present building analysis several brooch type material often say significant