An archaeological analysis of Anglo-Saxon Shropshire A.D. 600 – 1066: with a catalogue of artefacts

Hookway, Esme Nadine (2015). An archaeological analysis of Anglo-Saxon Shropshire A.D. 600 – 1066: with a catalogue of artefacts. University of Birmingham. M.Res.

Preview

Hookway15MRes.pdf
PDF - Accepted Version
Download (4MB)

Abstract

The Anglo-Saxon period spanned over 600 years, beginning in the fifth century with migrations into the Roman province of Britannia by peoples’ from the Continent, witnessing the arrival of Scandinavian raiders and settlers from the ninth century and ending with the Norman Conquest of a unified England in 1066. This was a period of immense cultural, political, economic and religious change.

The archaeological evidence for this period is however sparse in comparison with the preceding Roman period and the following medieval period. This is particularly apparent in regions of western England, and our understanding of Shropshire, a county with a notable lack of Anglo-Saxon archaeological or historical evidence, remains obscure. This research aims to enhance our understanding of the Anglo-Saxon period in Shropshire by combining multiple sources of evidence, including the growing body of artefacts recorded by the Portable Antiquity Scheme, to produce an over-view of Shropshire during the Anglo-Saxon period.

This approach has revealed that Shropshire was evolving throughout the period. The research demonstrates that through engagement with the Anglo-Saxon Mercian administration, the Catholic Church, Scandinavians and Normans, there were marked changes in religious practices, settlement and trade centres, and political and cultural structures.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Res.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Res.

Supervisor(s):