Landscape and warfare in early medieval Britain
The study of early medieval conflict landscapes has been largely driven by the traditional research agendas of military historians and battlefield archaeologists who have sought above all to precisely locate battlefields and reconstruct narratives of engagement. The deeply problematic nature of the source material for reliably identifying sites has, however, resulted in the landscape of conflict remaining under-researched and its significance poorly understood. This research project approaches the subject from a different angle and takes its theoretical perspective from anthropological and archaeological approaches that identify symbolic expression in the practice and idea of violence. In particular, interpretations of warfare that regard this activity in purely instrumental/material terms are called into question, and the project seeks to bring the study of organised violence into the orbit of other social phenomena of the early medieval period (assembly, execution, burial, religious practice etc.) that imparted and derived meaning from their landscape contexts. In addressing these issues, this project has quantified the conflict record between 400 and 1016 across much of Britain. Of the 351 conflict events
Williams, T. J. T.
Landscape and warfare in early medieval Britain. The study of early medieval conflict landscapes has been largely driven by the traditional research agendas of military historians and battlefield archaeologists who have sought above all to precisely locate battlefields and reconstruct narratives of engagement. The deeply problematic nature of the source material for reliably identifying sites has, however, resulted in the landscape of conflict remaining under-researched and its significance poorly understood. This research project approaches the subject from a different angle and takes its theoretical perspective from anthropological and archaeological approaches that identify symbolic expression in the practice and idea of violence. In particular, interpretations of warfare that regard this activity in purely instrumental/material terms are called into question, and the project seeks to bring the study of organised violence into the orbit of other social phenomena of the early medieval period (assembly, execution, burial, religious practice etc.) that imparted and derived meaning from their landscape contexts. In addressing these issues, this project has quantified the conflict record between 400 and 1016 across much of Britain. Of the 351 conflict events
landscape warfare early_medieval britain study early_medieval conflict landscape largely driven traditional agenda military historian battlefield archaeologist seek precisely locate battlefield reconstruct narrative engagement deeply problematic_nature source_material reliably identify site however result landscape conflict remain_under researched significance poorly_understood project approach_subject different angle take theoretical_perspective anthropological_archaeological approach identify symbolic expression practice idea violence particular interpretation warfare regard activity purely instrumental material term call_question project_seek bring study organise violence social_phenomenon early_medieval period assembly execution burial religious_practice etc impart derive meaning landscape_context address_issue project quantify conflict record across much britain conflict event