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archaeology: the early
medieval period
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The physical evidence for human
activity in the area in the early medieval period is almost
completely lacking.
The
situation in the western part of the subject area in this
period is similar to that in the rest of South-East Wales with
which it forms a single cultural entity.
The following is modified from the paper 'South-East Wales in
the Early Medieval Period: Research Assessment: ' by Mark
Redknap, 2002 |
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Opportunities for
archaeological research are defined as follows:
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Identification of
settlement. As has been recognised elsewhere in Britain, the
increase in metal-detecting over the last 20 years has
resulted in a wealth of early medieval metalwork being
recognised. The reporting of findspots, now under either the
Treasure Act 1996 or the Portable Antiquities
Reporting Scheme, is providing evidence for the location
of so-called ‘productive’ sites. Future funding for
investigative fieldwork would be valuable in ‘ground-truthing’
these clusters. No high-status site dating to the 8th-11th
centuries has yet been excavated in SE Wales.
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With a rich legacy
of late Roman sites in SE Wales (in comparison with other
areas), there is a need to investigate the late Roman/early
medieval transition – working from the known to the unknown.
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Comparative
characterisation of land use and settlement. Land units and
estate boundaries and their relationship to settlement merit
further investigation.
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The location and
nature of hillfort settlement – whether re-used earthworks or
founded de novo – deserves more work.
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Available evidence
suggests that some early medieval sites are complex, often
multi-period, with ecclesiastical associations. The
examination of complex sites with a high likelihood of an
early medieval component would enable investigators to place
the evidence within a broader chronological and topographic
pattern. A sample of sites where this approach might prove
fruitful is given below. In some cases, the preliminary work
of assembling the currently available evidence has been
carried out, e.g. in Glamorgan County History Vol. 2.
An assessment of available evidence, both documentary and
archaeological, for each site complex, followed by a carefully
focussed modest research programme, including limited
excavation and the use of scientific geophysical and dating
techniques would probably prove fruitful.
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Wider Issues
In short, our state of knowledge for
early medieval Wales based on archaeological evidence is
parlous, and many of the wider research questions will have
equal relevance for the rest of Wales:
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We know virtually nothing about the character of
5th-century settlement, and impact on settlement of the
transition from ‘Roman’ to ‘early medieval Wales’ beyond what
has been gleaned from historical sources.
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We know little about the character and
development of early medieval agriculture and land-use.
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We know little about the exploitation of
different landscape zones.
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We know very little about the nature of
‘industrial’ processes and resource exploitation.
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We know little about the layout and development
of early ecclesiastical centres.
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We know little about settlement types,
development, location, continuity, status.
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We know little about the material culture of
early medieval Wales, regional patterning, and cultural
identities.
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Beyond historical reconstruction, we know little
about the changing structure of society in early medieval
Wales.
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