Changing the fabric of life in post-Roman and early medieval Cornwall : an investigation into social change through petrographic analysis
This study digs beneath the cultural faĂ§ade of pottery, delving deeper into the individual consciousness and choices behind the selection of the clays used to make them. The social significance of clay and its sourcing practices is rarely considered in ceramic studies, and is generally restricted to an assessment of technical properties. This subject is thus poorly theorised, ignoring the potential of that first choice and act in the social process of ceramic production. This thesis sets out a theoretical approach â raw-material spatialisation â and utilises a ceramic petrographic methodology designed to investigate social change through the changing composition of ceramic fabrics. The study focuses on the continuous pottery sequence spanning the 4th-11th century AD in Cornwall, a period of immense social, religious and political change, viewed in its regional and national context. The first synthesis of ceramic traditions in the South West for 50 years, this study highlights previously overlooked similarities in the phases of ceramic innovation and production between Cornwall and western Wessex and the role of Devon as an aceramic buffer zone. Previous studies have highlighted the selection and preference
Wood, Imogen
Pottery early medieval post-roman Cornwall Petrography Theory Geology
Changing the fabric of life in post-Roman and early medieval Cornwall : an investigation into social change through petrographic analysis. This study digs beneath the cultural faĂ§ade of pottery, delving deeper into the individual consciousness and choices behind the selection of the clays used to make them. The social significance of clay and its sourcing practices is rarely considered in ceramic studies, and is generally restricted to an assessment of technical properties. This subject is thus poorly theorised, ignoring the potential of that first choice and act in the social process of ceramic production. This thesis sets out a theoretical approach â raw-material spatialisation â and utilises a ceramic petrographic methodology designed to investigate social change through the changing composition of ceramic fabrics. The study focuses on the continuous pottery sequence spanning the 4th-11th century AD in Cornwall, a period of immense social, religious and political change, viewed in its regional and national context. The first synthesis of ceramic traditions in the South West for 50 years, this study highlights previously overlooked similarities in the phases of ceramic innovation and production between Cornwall and western Wessex and the role of Devon as an aceramic buffer zone. Previous studies have highlighted the selection and preference
changing fabric life post_roman early_medieval cornwall investigation social_change petrographic analysis study beneath cultural pottery delve deep individual consciousness choice behind selection clay use make them social_significance clay source practice rarely_consider ceramic_study generally restrict assessment technical property subject thus poorly theorise ignore potential first choice act social_process ceramic_production set theoretical raw_material utilises ceramic petrographic design_investigate social_change change composition ceramic_fabric study_focus continuous pottery_sequence span cornwall period immense social_religious political_change view regional_national context first synthesis ceramic tradition south_west study_highlight previously_overlook similarity phase ceramic innovation production cornwall western wessex role devon buffer zone previous_study highlight selection preference