'Middle Saxon' settlement and society : the changing rural communities of central and eastern England
This thesis explores the experiences of rural communities who lived between the seventh and ninth centuries in central and eastern England. Utilising archaeological evidence as the primary source for study, the central aim of this thesis is to demonstrate the ways in which settlement remains can provide a picture of contemporary social, economic and political conditions in âMiddle Saxonâ England. Analysis of archaeological evidence from currently-occupied rural settlements represents a particularly unique and informative dataset to accomplish this central aim, and when combined with other forms of evidence illustrates that the seventh to ninth centuries was a period of fundamental social change, that impacted rural communities in significant and lasting ways. The transformation of settlement character was part of a more widespread process of landscape investment during the âMiddle Saxonâ period, as rapidly stratifying social institutions began to manifest power and influence through new means. Such an analysis represents a significant departure from the prevailing scholarly outlook of the early medieval landscape, which continues to posit that the countryside of England remained largely unchanged until
Wright, Duncan William
Archaeology ; Anglo-Saxon ; Settlement ; Landscape ; Early Medieval ; Middle Saxon ; Eighth Century ; Church History ; Church Archaeology ; Lordship
'Middle Saxon' settlement and society : the changing rural communities of central and eastern England. This thesis explores the experiences of rural communities who lived between the seventh and ninth centuries in central and eastern England. Utilising archaeological evidence as the primary source for study, the central aim of this thesis is to demonstrate the ways in which settlement remains can provide a picture of contemporary social, economic and political conditions in âMiddle Saxonâ England. Analysis of archaeological evidence from currently-occupied rural settlements represents a particularly unique and informative dataset to accomplish this central aim, and when combined with other forms of evidence illustrates that the seventh to ninth centuries was a period of fundamental social change, that impacted rural communities in significant and lasting ways. The transformation of settlement character was part of a more widespread process of landscape investment during the âMiddle Saxonâ period, as rapidly stratifying social institutions began to manifest power and influence through new means. Such an analysis represents a significant departure from the prevailing scholarly outlook of the early medieval landscape, which continues to posit that the countryside of England remained largely unchanged until
middle_saxon settlement society change rural_community central_eastern england explores experience rural_community live central_eastern england utilising archaeological_evidence primary_source study central aim way settlement remain provide picture contemporary_social economic_political condition middle saxon_england analysis archaeological_evidence currently occupied rural_settlement represent particularly unique informative dataset accomplish central aim combine form evidence illustrate period fundamental social_change impacted rural_community significant lasting way transformation_settlement character part widespread process landscape investment middle_saxon period rapidly stratify social_institution begin manifest power_influence new mean analysis represent_significant departure prevail scholarly outlook early_medieval landscape continue posit countryside england remain_largely unchanged