Landscapes of burial in early medieval Wessex : the funerary appropriation of the antecedent landscape, c. AD 450-850
The phenomenon of the reuse of prehistoric monumentsânotably Bronze Age barrowsâfor early medieval burial has long been recognised as remarkably prevalent in the archaeological record. This systematic study of the landscape context of âEarly-Middle Saxonâ burial in Wessex assumes a broader outlook, and considers all aspects of the antecedent landscape which may have influenced the siting of funerary locales. Engaging primarily with archaeological evidence, complemented by documentary and place-name sources, it examines the influence of topography, land-use, territorial organisation, and perceptions of ancient features on the location of burial sites, and the role played by burial in the formation of group identities. Moreover, it investigates the emergence and evolution of the practice of monument appropriation, and its exploitation and adaptation by an increasingly defined elite class. The selection of three case study countiesâWiltshire, Hampshire and Dorsetâwithin a discrete area of southern England which, by the latter part of the period of study, had been incorporated into the kingdom of Wessex, allows the evidence to be examined at local and sub-regional levels, and facilitates supra-regional
Mees, Kate Anna
Archaeology ; Early Medieval ; Anglo-Saxon ; Landscape ; Burial ; Identity ; Land-use ; Roman ; Prehistoric ; Saxon ; Wessex ; GIS
Landscapes of burial in early medieval Wessex : the funerary appropriation of the antecedent landscape, c. AD 450-850. The phenomenon of the reuse of prehistoric monumentsânotably Bronze Age barrowsâfor early medieval burial has long been recognised as remarkably prevalent in the archaeological record. This systematic study of the landscape context of âEarly-Middle Saxonâ burial in Wessex assumes a broader outlook, and considers all aspects of the antecedent landscape which may have influenced the siting of funerary locales. Engaging primarily with archaeological evidence, complemented by documentary and place-name sources, it examines the influence of topography, land-use, territorial organisation, and perceptions of ancient features on the location of burial sites, and the role played by burial in the formation of group identities. Moreover, it investigates the emergence and evolution of the practice of monument appropriation, and its exploitation and adaptation by an increasingly defined elite class. The selection of three case study countiesâWiltshire, Hampshire and Dorsetâwithin a discrete area of southern England which, by the latter part of the period of study, had been incorporated into the kingdom of Wessex, allows the evidence to be examined at local and sub-regional levels, and facilitates supra-regional
landscapes burial early_medieval wessex funerary appropriation antecedent landscape phenomenon reuse prehistoric_monument notably bronze_age barrows early_medieval burial long_recognise remarkably prevalent archaeological_record systematic_study landscape_context early_middle saxon burial wessex assume broad outlook considers aspects antecedent landscape may_influence sit funerary locale engaging primarily archaeological_evidence complement documentary place_name source examines influence topography land_use territorial organisation perception ancient feature location burial_site role_play burial formation group_identity moreover investigate emergence evolution practice monument appropriation exploitation adaptation increasingly define elite class selection three_case_study county wiltshire hampshire dorset within discrete area southern_england latter_part period study incorporate kingdom wessex allow evidence examine local sub regional_level facilitate supra regional