Post-Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England : the burial evidence reviewed
This thesis is the result of a decision to extend the approach used by me when examining Irish burial practices, to a review of the archaeological and documentary record for burial practices and associated phenomena in the transitional period from late/post-Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England. The study considers burial rites; the method of disposal of physical remains, the position and orientation of bodies, and burial structures and enclosures: grave-goods are only referred to when they are pertinent to a particular line of argument. My intention is to draw together the various aspects of burial of the Iron Age, Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon periods in order to look at the overall picture. Occasionally this may mean stating the obvious, but by noting and plotting distributions of various burial traits first in the Iron Age and Romano-British periods, and then comparing these traits with the Anglo-Saxon period some revealing results can be obtained. It was important to begin with the Iron Age since some minority practices current in the early Anglo-Saxon period had a continuous history from the pre-Roman period. They are of importance in demonstrating the continuities that existed alongside major changes.
O'Brien, Elizabeth
Burial ; History ; Excavations (Archaeology) ; Funeral rites and ceremonies ; Antiquities ; England ; Great Britain ; Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066
Post-Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England : the burial evidence reviewed. This thesis is the result of a decision to extend the approach used by me when examining Irish burial practices, to a review of the archaeological and documentary record for burial practices and associated phenomena in the transitional period from late/post-Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England. The study considers burial rites; the method of disposal of physical remains, the position and orientation of bodies, and burial structures and enclosures: grave-goods are only referred to when they are pertinent to a particular line of argument. My intention is to draw together the various aspects of burial of the Iron Age, Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon periods in order to look at the overall picture. Occasionally this may mean stating the obvious, but by noting and plotting distributions of various burial traits first in the Iron Age and Romano-British periods, and then comparing these traits with the Anglo-Saxon period some revealing results can be obtained. It was important to begin with the Iron Age since some minority practices current in the early Anglo-Saxon period had a continuous history from the pre-Roman period. They are of importance in demonstrating the continuities that existed alongside major changes.
post roman britain anglo saxon_england burial_evidence review decision extend use examine irish burial_practice review archaeological_documentary record burial_practice associate phenomena transitional_period late post_roman britain anglo_saxon_england study_considers burial_rite method disposal physical remain position orientation body burial structure enclosure grave goods refer pertinent particular line_argument intention draw_together various_aspect burial iron_age_romano british anglo saxon_period order look overall_picture occasionally may mean state obvious note plot distribution various burial trait first iron_age_romano british period compare trait anglo_saxon_period revealing obtain important begin iron_age since minority practice current early_anglo saxon_period continuous history pre_roman period importance demonstrate continuity exist alongside major_change