Reflections: 50 Years of Medieval Archaeology, 1957-2007: No. 30: 50 Years of Medieval Archaeology, 1957-2007 (The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monographs)

This volume celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Society for Medieval Archaeology (established in 1957), presenting reflections on the history, development and future prospects of the discipline. The papers are drawn from a series of conferences and workshops that took place in 2007-08, in addition to a number of contributions that were commissioned especially for the volume. They range from personal commentaries on the history of the Society and the growth of the subject (see papers by David Wilson and Rosemary Cramp), to historiographical, regional and thematic overviews of major trends in the evolution and current practice of medieval archaeology. All the publications are fully refereed with the aim of publishing at the highest academic level reports on sites of national and international importance, and of encouraging the widest debate. The series'objectives are to cover the broadest chronological and geographical range and to assemble a series of volumes which reflect the changing intellectual and technical scope of the discipline. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 10 INTRODUCTION 'The Elephant in the Room' and Other Tales of Medieval Archaeology 22 PART I 50 YEARS OF MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY 30 CHAPTER 1 The Foundation and Early Years of the Society for Medieval Archaeology 32 CHAPTER 2 The Society for Medieval Archaeology: The Early Years (1956–62) 44 CHAPTER 3 Milestones in Early Medieval Archaeology over the Last 50 Years 68 CHAPTER 4 Looking to the Future of Medieval Archaeology 86 PART II REGIONAL TRADITIONS IN MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY 98 CHAPTER 5 Tribes and Territories, People and Places: 50 Years of Medieval Archaeology in Britain 100 CHAPTER 6 Ethnicity and Archaeology in Later Medieval Ireland: The Challenge of the Gael 134 CHAPTER 7 Medieval Archaeology in Italy: From the Origins to the Present Day 152 CHAPTER 8 Italian Medieval Archaeology: Recent Developments and Contemporary Challenges 176 CHAPTER 9 Medieval Archaeology in Spain 194 CHAPTER 10 Medieval Archaeology in South-eastern Europe 212 PART III MEDIEVAL LANDSCAPES, SETTLEMENTS AND MATERIAL CULTURE 246 CHAPTER 11 Understanding the Medieval Landscape 248 CHAPTER 12 Medieval Towns and Urbanization 276 CHAPTER 13 Housing Culture: Scandinavian Perspectives 292 CHAPTER 14 Material Concerns: Non-Ceramic Finds c 1050–1500 310 PART IV SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES ON MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY 326 CHAPTER 15 Health and Welfare in Medieval England: The Human Skeletal Remains Contextualized 328 CHAPTER 16 Investigating Medieval Diet and Society by Stable Isotope Analysis of Human Bone 348 CHAPTER 17 Animals, The Bones of Medieval Society 368 CHAPTER 18 Emerging from the Appendices: The Contribution of Scientific Examinationand Analysis to Medieval Archaeology 384 PART V SOCIAL APPROACHES TO MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY 404 CHAPTER 19 Medieval Archaeology and Theory: A Disciplinary Leap of Faith 406 CHAPTER 20 Meaningful Landscapes: An Early Medieval Perspective 430 CHAPTER 21 The Medieval Aristocracy and the Social Use of Space 456 CHAPTER 22 Medieval Identity Issues 474 CHAPTER 23 Burial, Belief and Identity in Later Anglo-Saxon England 486 CHAPTER 24 Making the Past Present: Cinematic Narratives of the Middle Ages 510 INDEX 534 This Volume Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The Society For Medieval Archaeology (established In 1957), Presenting Reflections On The History, Development And Future Prospects Of The Discipline. The Papers Are Drawn From A Series Of Conferences And Workshops That Took Place In 2007-2008, In Addition To A Number Of Contributions That Were Commissioned Especially For The Volume. They Range From Personal Commentaries On The History Of The Society And The Growth Of The Subject, To Historiographical, Regional And Thematic Overviews Of Major Trends In The Evolution And Current Practice Of Medieval Archaeology In Britain. Critical Overviews Are Presented Of The Archaeology Of Medieval Landscapes, Buildings And Material Culture; New Developments In The Scientific Study Of Medieval Health, Diet And Materials; And, Innovations In Social Approaches To Medieval Archaeology. A Series Of Papers On Southern Europe Provide A Comparative Perspective, Featuring Overviews On Medieval Archaeology In Italy, Spain And Southeastern Europe.-- Medieval Archaeology In South-eastern Europe / By Florin Curta. Edited By Roberta Gilchrist And Andrew Reynolds. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This volume celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Society for Medieval Archaeology (established in 1957), presenting reflections on the history, development and future prospects of the discipline. The papers are drawn from a series of conferences and workshops that took place in 2007-2008, in addition to a number of contributions that were commissioned especially for the volume. They range from personal commentaries on the history of the Society and the growth of the subject, to historiographical, regional and thematic overviews of major trends in the evolution and current practice of medieval archaeology in Britain. Critical overviews are presented of the archaeology of medieval landscapes, buildings and material culture; new developments in the scientific study of medieval health, diet and materials; and, innovations in social approaches to medieval archaeology. A series of papers on southern Europe provide a comparative perspective, featuring overviews on medieval archaeology in Italy, Spain and southeastern Europe."-- Back cover