This article is about the archaeological study of the Middle Ages. For the academic journal, see Medieval Archaeology.
Medieval archaeology is the study of humankind through its material culture, specialising in the period of the European Middle Ages. At its broadest, the period stretches from the 5th to the 16th century and refers to post-Roman but pre-modern remains. The period covers the upheaval caused by the Fall of the Western Roman Empire and cultures such as the Vikings, the Saxons, and the Franks. Archaeologists often specialise in studying either the Early Middle Ages (Migration Period) or the High Middle Ages and Late Middle Ages, although many projects and professionals move across these chronological boundaries. The rich nature of the medieval written record means that archaeology has often been seen as the "handmaiden to history",[1] especially in the Late Middle Ages. Analysis of material culture may enrich or call into question written evidence from the medieval period and the two sources of evidence need to be used together. Medieval archaeology has examined the development of medieval settlements, particularly the development of medieval towns, monasteries, and castles. It has also contributed to understanding of the spread and development of Christian monasticism during the medieval period.
The Society for Medieval Archaeology (United Kingdom) was founded in 1957. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, several publications examined the history of the society and the sub-discipline.[2][3] Christopher Gerrard's 2003 book Medieval Archaeology also charts the move in the United Kingdom from antiquarianism, through Victorian medievalism, on to the emergence of medieval archaeology as a sub-discipline in the 20th century.[4] Michel de Boüard, the University of Caen, Ecole pratique des Hautes Etudes, and the Polish Academy of Sciences were instrumental in establishing medieval archaeology as a field in France in the second half of the 20th century.[5]
Areas of expertiseedit
The study of medieval archaeology often focuses on specific kinds of settlement pattern.
Rural settlements and landscapesedit
Pattern of medieval rural settlements are often quite different from modern time villages. This is true in terms of architecture, outline of the settlements and social structure.
Townsedit
There is a broad spectrum of pre-urban and urban settlements in the Middle Ages (e.g. early medieval trading places at the Northern Sea and the Baltic Sea, former Roman cities and town foundations of the late Middle Ages).
An important field of research is urban archaeology in still existing towns, which is determined by rescue archaeology.
In the United Kingdom, the Dissolution of the Monasteries left many monastic sites abandoned. Where monasteries have survived or been converted for other uses, "buildings archaeology" has also been applied to study their history. Medieval monasteries often held large estates and the study of monastic landscapes is an area of specialised research.[6] There have been two main waves of research in medieval monastic and church archaeology: 1970-1995 and 1995-present. The first wave was influenced by landscape history and processual archaeology; scholarship focused principally on historical, economic and technological questions and targeted individual sites and monuments for study. The second wave has been informed by post-processual approaches and considers change and complexity in religious landscapes and perspectives on religious space, embodiment and agency.[7]
^Gilchrist, Roberta 1994. 'Chapter 1. The Handmaid's Tale'. In Gilchrist, R. Gender and Material Culture. London: Routledge, pp. 1-21.
^Gilchrist, Roberta and Reynolds, Andrew, eds. (2009) Reflections: 50 Years of Medieval Archaeology, 1957-2007. Society for Medieval Archaeology Monographs, 30. Maney, Leeds
^Gerrard, Chris M. (2007). "Retrospect and Prospect: 50 years of Medieval Archaeology", webpage: MA-uk.
^Gerrard, Chris M. (2003). Medieval Archaeology. Understanding traditions and contemporary approaches. London: Routledge.
^Audouze, Françoise; Leroi‐Gourhan, André (1981). "France: A continental insularity". World Archaeology. 13 (2): 170–189. doi:10.1080/00438243.1981.9979824. ISSN 0043-8243.
^Aston, Mick (2000) Monasteries in the Landscape. Revised Edition. The History Press
^Gilchrist, Roberta (2014-10-21). "Monastic and Church Archaeology". Annual Review of Anthropology. 43: 235–250. doi:10.1146/annurev-anthro-102313-025845.
Further readingedit
Poisson, Jean-Michel (19 December 2017). "Medieval archaeology and the history of material culture: forty years later". Palethnologie (9). doi:10.4000/palethnologie.332.
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This article is about the archaeological study of the Middle Ages For the academic journal see Medieval Archaeology Medieval archaeology is the study of humankind through its material culture specialising in the period of the European Middle Ages At its broadest the period stretches from the 5th to the 16th century and refers to post Roman but pre modern remains The period covers the upheaval caused by the Fall of the Western Roman Empire and cultures such as the Vikings the Saxons and the Franks Archaeologists often specialise in studying either the Early Middle Ages Migration Period or the High Middle Ages and Late Middle Ages although many projects and professionals move across these chronological boundaries The rich nature of the medieval written record means that archaeology has often been seen as the handmaiden to history 1 especially in the Late Middle Ages Analysis of material culture may enrich or call into question written evidence from the medieval period and the two sources of evidence need to be used together Medieval archaeology has examined the development of medieval settlements particularly the development of medieval towns monasteries and castles It has also contributed to understanding of the spread and development of Christian monasticism during the medieval period Contents 1 History of the study of medieval archaeology 2 Areas of expertise 2 1 Rural settlements and landscapes 2 2 Towns 2 3 Castles 2 4 Church and monastic archaeology 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory of the study of medieval archaeology editThe Society for Medieval Archaeology United Kingdom was founded in 1957 To celebrate its 50th anniversary several publications examined the history of the society and the sub discipline 2 3 Christopher Gerrard s 2003 book Medieval Archaeology also charts the move in the United Kingdom from antiquarianism through Victorian medievalism on to the emergence of medieval archaeology as a sub discipline in the 20th century 4 Michel de Bouard the University of Caen Ecole pratique des Hautes Etudes and the Polish Academy of Sciences were instrumental in establishing medieval archaeology as a field in France in the second half of the 20th century 5 Areas of expertise editThe study of medieval archaeology often focuses on specific kinds of settlement pattern Rural settlements and landscapes edit Pattern of medieval rural settlements are often quite different from modern time villages This is true in terms of architecture outline of the settlements and social structure Towns edit There is a broad spectrum of pre urban and urban settlements in the Middle Ages e g early medieval trading places at the Northern Sea and the Baltic Sea former Roman cities and town foundations of the late Middle Ages An important field of research is urban archaeology in still existing towns which is determined by rescue archaeology Castles edit source source source source source source source A reconstruction of Holt Castle in 1495 Castles are medieval fortified structures Church and monastic archaeology edit In the United Kingdom the Dissolution of the Monasteries left many monastic sites abandoned Where monasteries have survived or been converted for other uses buildings archaeology has also been applied to study their history Medieval monasteries often held large estates and the study of monastic landscapes is an area of specialised research 6 There have been two main waves of research in medieval monastic and church archaeology 1970 1995 and 1995 present The first wave was influenced by landscape history and processual archaeology scholarship focused principally on historical economic and technological questions and targeted individual sites and monuments for study The second wave has been informed by post processual approaches and considers change and complexity in religious landscapes and perspectives on religious space embodiment and agency 7 See also editMedieval BioarchaeologyReferences edit Gilchrist Roberta 1994 Chapter 1 The Handmaid s Tale In Gilchrist R Gender and Material Culture London Routledge pp 1 21 Gilchrist Roberta and Reynolds Andrew eds 2009 Reflections 50 Years of Medieval Archaeology 1957 2007 Society for Medieval Archaeology Monographs 30 Maney Leeds Gerrard Chris M 2007 Retrospect and Prospect 50 years of Medieval Archaeology webpage MA uk Gerrard Chris M 2003 Medieval Archaeology Understanding traditions and contemporary approaches London Routledge Audouze Francoise Leroi Gourhan Andre 1981 France A continental insularity World Archaeology 13 2 170 189 doi 10 1080 00438243 1981 9979824 ISSN 0043 8243 Aston Mick 2000 Monasteries in the Landscape Revised Edition The History Press Gilchrist Roberta 2014 10 21 Monastic and Church Archaeology Annual Review of Anthropology 43 235 250 doi 10 1146 annurev anthro 102313 025845 Further reading editPoisson Jean Michel 19 December 2017 Medieval archaeology and the history of material culture forty years later Palethnologie 9 doi 10 4000 palethnologie 332 External links edit nbsp Scholia has a topic profile for Medieval archaeology Journal Medieval Archaeology digitized version of vols 1 50 1957 2006 nbsp This article relating to archaeology in Europe is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Medieval archaeology amp oldid 1187254568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
