Portable Antiquities, Palimpsests and Persistent Places in Lincolnshire, with particular reference to three Middle Saxon case studies
This study explores the significance of Portable Antiquities Scheme data (PAS) for Lincolnshire, and in doing so makes a distinct and original contribution to the interpretation of plough-zone palimpsests and persistent places. PAS holds information on around 52,000 finds from Lincolnshire alone, but these had yet to be characterised and explored in a systematic way. Moreover, few studies of PAS data in general have explored how such finds come together to form palimpsests, and how these palimpsests in turn can be used to infer persistence of place. The present study addresses these shortcomings. A bespoke methodology is developed that allows PAS data to be analysed at different scales of time and place. This brings into focus different sources of bias and different interpretative possibilities. PAS data are demonstrated to consistently enhance Historic Environment Record data, most notably for the Early Medieval period, where the number of 'activity areas' is increased by 64%. Taking the longer-term view reveals that 93% of PAS data form multi-period assemblages, referred to here as âplough-zone palimpsestsâ. Analysis of these palimpsests shows the majority conform to Bailey's cumulative or spatial palimpsest
Daubney, Adam Jonathan
Portable Antiquities, Palimpsests and Persistent Places in Lincolnshire, with particular reference to three Middle Saxon case studies. This study explores the significance of Portable Antiquities Scheme data (PAS) for Lincolnshire, and in doing so makes a distinct and original contribution to the interpretation of plough-zone palimpsests and persistent places. PAS holds information on around 52,000 finds from Lincolnshire alone, but these had yet to be characterised and explored in a systematic way. Moreover, few studies of PAS data in general have explored how such finds come together to form palimpsests, and how these palimpsests in turn can be used to infer persistence of place. The present study addresses these shortcomings. A bespoke methodology is developed that allows PAS data to be analysed at different scales of time and place. This brings into focus different sources of bias and different interpretative possibilities. PAS data are demonstrated to consistently enhance Historic Environment Record data, most notably for the Early Medieval period, where the number of 'activity areas' is increased by 64%. Taking the longer-term view reveals that 93% of PAS data form multi-period assemblages, referred to here as âplough-zone palimpsestsâ. Analysis of these palimpsests shows the majority conform to Bailey's cumulative or spatial palimpsest
portable antiquities persistent places lincolnshire particular_reference middle_saxon case_study study_explore significance portable_antiquities_scheme data pas lincolnshire make distinct original interpretation plough zone palimpsest persistent place pas hold information find lincolnshire alone yet characterise explore systematic_way moreover_study pas data general explore find come_together form palimpsest palimpsest turn use_infer persistence place present_study address shortcoming develop allows pas data analyse different_scale time_place brings focus different_source bias different interpretative possibility pas data demonstrate consistently enhance historic environment record data notably early_medieval period number activity_area increase taking longer_term view reveals pas data form multi_period assemblage refer plough zone palimpsest analysis palimpsest show majority conform cumulative spatial palimpsest