An analysis of the series X or Wodan monster sceattas : some implications for trade and exchange in the 8th century AD
The work of the historian Henri Pirenne in the early years of this century sparked a debate concerning the nature and extent of trade and exchange in Early Medieval Europe which still reverberates today. The paucity of the historical evidence for the period soon led to the use of numismatic evidence although this too was used to argue opposing views. The archaeological evidence for trade and the development of towns in Early Medieval Europe has increased enormously in the last forty years. Archaeologists were also increasingly aware of the work of economic anthropologists who believed in the different character of 'the econcomy' capitalist societies and its importance in the social system as a whole. These concerns were first brought to the study of the Early Medieval economy by Grierson but more recently Hodges has developed a model of which sees trade as a major factor in the development and changing nature of society in this period. Numismatic evidence has been widely used by all concerned with these problems. Yet the major source of numismatic information for the 8th century has never been studied in detail. A number of large hoards of 8th century coins, the sceatta series of coinages, were found in the
Barrett, David
Archaeology
An analysis of the series X or Wodan monster sceattas : some implications for trade and exchange in the 8th century AD. The work of the historian Henri Pirenne in the early years of this century sparked a debate concerning the nature and extent of trade and exchange in Early Medieval Europe which still reverberates today. The paucity of the historical evidence for the period soon led to the use of numismatic evidence although this too was used to argue opposing views. The archaeological evidence for trade and the development of towns in Early Medieval Europe has increased enormously in the last forty years. Archaeologists were also increasingly aware of the work of economic anthropologists who believed in the different character of 'the econcomy' capitalist societies and its importance in the social system as a whole. These concerns were first brought to the study of the Early Medieval economy by Grierson but more recently Hodges has developed a model of which sees trade as a major factor in the development and changing nature of society in this period. Numismatic evidence has been widely used by all concerned with these problems. Yet the major source of numismatic information for the 8th century has never been studied in detail. A number of large hoards of 8th century coins, the sceatta series of coinages, were found in the
analysis series monster implication trade_exchange work historian spark debate_concern nature_extent trade_exchange early medieval europe still reverberate today paucity historical_evidence period soon lead use numismatic_evidence although use argue oppose_view archaeological_evidence trade development town early medieval europe increase archaeologists also increasingly aware work economic anthropologist believe different character the capitalist_society importance social_system whole concern first bring study early_medieval economy recently develop_model see trade major_factor development change_nature society period numismatic_evidence widely_use concerned problem yet major_source numismatic information never study_detail number large hoard coin series coinage find