Land, people and power in early medieval Wales : the cantref of Cemais in comparative perspective
This study examines the structure of the early medieval Welsh landscape. Using a cantref (hundred) in south-west Wales as a case study, it draws on a multidisciplinary, comparative analysis to overcome the limits imposed by restricted material culture survival and limited written sources. It examines the patterns of power and habitual activity that defined spaces and structured lives, and considers the temporal relationships, both seasonal and longue dureÌe, that shaped them. Four key findings are presented. Firstly, that key areas of early medieval life - agriculture, tribute-payment, legal processes and hunting - were structured by a longstanding seasonal patterning that is preserved in twelfth- and thirteenth-century Welsh law, church and well dedications and fair dates. Secondly it presents, at cantref level, the first systematic survey of assembly site evidence in Wales, and sets it in comparative context. Thirdly, it demonstrates that, though poor material culture preservation and limited written records have hitherto restricted identification and characterisation of key locations in the early medieval Welsh landscape, a multidisciplinary dataset allows effective identification of focal zones through
Comeau, Rhiannon
Land, people and power in early medieval Wales : the cantref of Cemais in comparative perspective. This study examines the structure of the early medieval Welsh landscape. Using a cantref (hundred) in south-west Wales as a case study, it draws on a multidisciplinary, comparative analysis to overcome the limits imposed by restricted material culture survival and limited written sources. It examines the patterns of power and habitual activity that defined spaces and structured lives, and considers the temporal relationships, both seasonal and longue dureÌe, that shaped them. Four key findings are presented. Firstly, that key areas of early medieval life - agriculture, tribute-payment, legal processes and hunting - were structured by a longstanding seasonal patterning that is preserved in twelfth- and thirteenth-century Welsh law, church and well dedications and fair dates. Secondly it presents, at cantref level, the first systematic survey of assembly site evidence in Wales, and sets it in comparative context. Thirdly, it demonstrates that, though poor material culture preservation and limited written records have hitherto restricted identification and characterisation of key locations in the early medieval Welsh landscape, a multidisciplinary dataset allows effective identification of focal zones through
land people power early_medieval wales comparative_perspective study_examines structure early_medieval welsh landscape using hundred south west wales case_study draw multidisciplinary comparative_analysis overcome limit impose restrict material_culture survival limit write_source examines pattern power habitual activity define space structure life_considers temporal relationship seasonal longue shape them four_key finding_present firstly key_area early_medieval life agriculture tribute payment legal process hunt structure longstanding seasonal patterning preserve twelfth thirteenth_century welsh law church well dedication fair date secondly present level first systematic_survey assembly site evidence wales set comparative context thirdly demonstrate though poor material_culture preservation limit write_record hitherto restrict identification characterisation key location early_medieval welsh landscape multidisciplinary dataset allows effective identification focal zone