A United Europe of Things: Portable Material Culture across Medieval Europe (Themes in Contemporary Archaeology)

This volume studies high and late medieval material culture in a Pan-European context. The idea of ‘unity of culture’ in Medieval Latin Europe is well known in historical texts, especially when it concerns the so-called ‘Europe North of the Alps’. This book investigates the similarities and differences in material culture between areas, regions and political entities and opens the dialogue for a more interregional discussion. The editors acknowledge that there are numerous challenges in understanding the phenomenon the volume addresses, the fundamental one being defining (or even redefining) a common material culture of Europe. Important in determining this is greater appreciation of how objects reflect interactions between peoples, both local and foreign, which can be driven by a variety of factors, including trade, conflict and diplomacy etc. But just as important is observing the differences between ‘things’ across Europe, reflecting developments and transformations its cultural, social and economic history. These works are traditionally presented in isolation or at the local level, maybe even in very specialized tomes, as often it is thought their observation are not relevant to wider discourses. Conversely, what is clear, however, is that by interconnecting these seemingly introvert studies of specific artefact types or sites etc., readers can better appreciate the similarities and differences in material culture across Europe. This book is of interest to researchers in archaeology and material culture. Preface Contents Contributors About the Editors Abbreviations 1: Introduction 1.1 A United Europe of Things? 1.2 Contemporary Borders and Medieval Artefacts 1.3 Archaeological Theory and Expectations from the Research 1.4 Different Things and Different Approaches References 2: United We Play, United We Pray? Connected Networks of Medieval Play and Supernatural Engagement 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Magic in Play and Belief 2.3 Castles as Playgrounds 2.4 Chess in Focus: Castles, Female Agency and Church Treasuries 2.5 Conclusions Appendix References Internet Databases 3: Where Globalisation, Commerce and Devotion Meet: Silver and Pewter Spoons in Later Medieval England in a European Context 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Velocity of Metals 3.3 Spoons and Selfhood 3.4 Spoons and Devotion 3.5 Conclusions References 4: A United Europe of (Religious) Inscriptions (on Medieval Dress Accessories)? 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Portable Antiquities Scheme Data 4.3 Brooches 4.4 Buckles and Strap-Ends 4.5 Continental Brooches 4.6 Continental Buckles and Strap-Ends 4.7 Conclusions References 5: Our Lady of Things: The Representation of the Virgin Mary on Jewellery in Medieval Hungary 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Rosaries 5.3 Rings 5.4 Brooches 5.5 Conclusions References 6: ‘The Kings’ Name Is a Tower of Strength’: Images of Enthroned Kings on Late Romanesque Mounts from Hungary 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Enthroned Images Representing Authority 6.3 The Cult and Material Representations of the Holy Kings 6.4 Medieval Small Finds with Anthropomorphic Images 6.5 Conclusions References 7: Bull, Ram and Hare: Pottery Aquamaniles from Upper Maribor Castle (Slovenia) 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Symbolic and Ceremonial Aspects of Washing Hands 7.3 Aquamaniles in the European Context 7.4 Maribor Aquamaniles and Their Cultural Context 7.4.1 Historical Background 7.4.2 Aquamaniles from Upper Maribor Castle 7.5 Conclusions References 8: Hooked Clasps and Where to Find Them: Similarities and Differences in Dress Accessories in Europe North of the Alps 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Archaeology and Medieval Costume 8.3 Terminology of Hooked Clasps and Eyes 8.4 Late-Medieval Hooked Clasps 8.5 Hooked Clasps and Eyes in Medieval Fashion 8.6 Hooked Clasps and Eyes in Medieval Art 8.7 Archaeological Finds of Hooked Clasps and Eyes 8.8 Conclusions References 9: It Depends: The Use of Harness Pendants in Medieval Europe 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Definition and Background – Harness Pendants 9.3 Distribution 9.4 Consideration of Form 9.5 Analysis Through Time 9.6 Conclusion References 10: Import or Imitation? Late Medieval Graphite Ware and Its Influence in Central Transdanubia (Hungary) 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Graphite Ceramics 10.3 Challenges 10.4 Distribution of Grey and Graphite Wares in the Medieval Kingdom of Hungary 10.5 Methodology 10.6 Thirteenth-Fourteenth Century Grey and Graphite Ware in Central Transdanubia 10.7 Fifteenth-Sixteenth Century Grey and Graphite Ware in Central Transdanubia 10.8 Influence of Graphite Ware in Central Transdanubia 10.9 Other ‘Pottery Regions’ of Hungary 10.10 Social Aspects 10.11 Conclusions References 11: Long-Distance Relations Reflected in the Medieval Urban Material Culture of Baia Mare (Nagybánya), Satu Mare (Szatmár) and Mintiu (Németi) (Romania) 11.1 Introduction 11.2 A Sword with Inscription from Mintiu 11.3 A Three-Legged Cauldron from Baia Mare 11.4 Conclusions References 12: Masses of Medieval Metal: A Quantitative Approach to Metalwork from Medieval Cities in Flanders (AD 1000–1600) 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Middeleeuws Metaal: A Project Outline 12.3 Collecting and Exposing Finds Data 12.3.1 Data Collection 12.3.2 Context 12.3.3 Typology 12.3.4 Digital Infrastructure 12.4 Preliminary Results 12.4.1 Artefacts to Data Points 12.4.2 Metal Material Culture in Medieval Towns 12.5 Conclusions References Internet databases 13: Material Cultures and Social Practices in the Archaeological Assemblages of Uppsala (AD 1100–1550) 13.1 Introduction 13.2 The Town and the Networks of Uppsala 13.3 ‘The Dynamics of a Medieval Town’ – Methodology 13.4 Conclusions References