Overview

This wide-ranging study uses historical and archaeological evidence to consider humanity's interactions with the environment, fashioning agricultural, gardening and horticultural regimes over a millennium and a half. The discussions of archaeological finds of seeds from discarded rubbish including animal fodder and bedding show the wide range of wild species present, as well as cultivated and gathered plants in the diet of inhabitants and livestock. Pollen analyses, and studies of wood, mosses, and beetles, alongside a look at the local natural environment, and comparison with medieval written records give us a tantalizing picture of early Winchester. The earliest record is by Ælfric of Eynsham in his 11th-century Nomina Herbarum. From medieval records come hints of gardens within the city walls, and considerable detail about agriculture and horticulture, and produce brought into the city. Wild fruit and nuts were also being gathered from the countryside for the town’s markets and mills. At St Giles’ Fair exotic imported spices and fruits were also sold. All these sources of evidence are brought together to reveal more fully the roles of agriculture and the environment in the development of Winchester.

Full Product Details

9781803270661

Table of Contents

Reviews

'This is a comprehensive study of organic remains from important Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, and later medieval archaeological sites in Winchester. Most usefully the archaeobotanical data, which were collected in the 1960–80s, have been integrated with documentary and historical evidence thereby enabling a better understanding of the development of the early historic city.' – Keith Wilkinson, Professor of Geoarchaeology and Director of ARCA, University of Winchester ‘This tenth volume of the Winchester Studies series focuses on the environmental and historical evidence for food consumption in Winchester itself and for agricultural production and local vegetation in its immediate environs. The archaeological data presented here derive from excavations within the walled city between 1961 and 1971, and cover the early Roman to Late Middle Ages. It is a well-produced volume, with the text divided into three parts, outlined below, followed by a concordance of samples, a general index and an index of plant and insect names.’ – Marijke Van Der Veen (2023): Medieval Archaeology Volume 67, Issue 2 'In summary, this is an extremely informative and enjoyable series of contributions that neatly dovetails the archaeological and textual sources for the environmental history of Winchester. The range of chapters includes discrete themes or data alongside ‘bigger picture’ contributions that together generate a most useful and highly readable volume.' – Duncan W. Wright (2024): Antiquity, Volume 98, Issue 398

This is a comprehensive study of organic remains from important Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, and later medieval archaeological sites in Winchester. Most usefully the archaeobotanical data, which were collected in the 1960-80s, have been integrated with documentary and historical evidence thereby enabling a better understanding of the development of the early historic city. - Keith Wilkinson, Professor of Geoarchaeology and Director of ARCA, University of Winchester

Author Information

Martin Biddle has an extensive archaeological career, but is perhaps most recognized for his excavations in Winchester where he introduced into urban archaeology a multi-period and multi-disciplinary approach employing archaeology, topography and historical archives, treating all periods from the Iron Age to the post-medieval with equal weight. ; Jane Renfrew is a paleoethnobotanist noted for her studies on the use of plants in prehistory, the origin and development of agriculture, food and wine in antiquity, and the origin of the vine and wine in the Mediterranean. ; Patrick Ottaway is a consultant providing specialist advice to commercial and public clients on archaeological and heritage matters. He was Assistant City Archaeologist in Winchester and Head of Fieldwork at York Archaeological Trust. He is author or editor of volumes on excavations in Winchester 1972–86, and of the Urban Archaeological Assessment for Winchester.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available