Overview

The discovery of early medieval artefacts by metal detectorists at Glyn, Llanbedrgoch, Anglesey from the late 1980s led to a long-term programme of archaeological investigations by the National Museum of Wales (now Amgueddfa Cymru). Excavation revealed rich evidence for human activity from the Mesolithic period to the present, but its international recognition as a transformative site has been based on the remarkable early medieval evidence covering the 5th- to 6th-century transition up to the 11th century. The early medieval enclosed settlement has produced the richest archaeological record in pre-Norman Wales for this period of political and cultural transformation. The site provides a unique sequence of development from small farm and entrepôt to a developing regional centre from the 7th century. By the 10th century, Llanbedrgoch had become an important commercial centre for the kingdom of Gwynedd, while possibly functioning in the manner of an estate centre with proto-urban potential. The excavated evidence shows an influx of material culture that is mixed, vibrant and in tune with the data from other sites around the Irish Sea and the Continent. This publication integrates all the archaeological evidence discovered, including the first house plans from Viking-age Wales and details of objects made, cherished, consumed, destroyed and repaired. Eight early medieval burials provide data on personal appearance, health, diet and origins (including slavery), and four have facial reconstructions. New artefacts classifications and interpretations are provided, and corpora on dress accessories, hacksilver, household equipment and quernstones found in early medieval Wales presented. The social, economic and political contexts are discussed. AUTHOR: Mark Redknap was appointed Curator of Medieval and Later Archaeology at the National Museum of Wales (now Amgueddfa Cymru) in 1988, later becoming Head of Research in the Department of History and Archaeology until October 2023. An archaeologist and finds specialist, he has been lead curator for numerous exhibitions based at the National Museum Cardiff. His recent research focus has been on early medieval and medieval Wales and he published Llangorse Crannog with Oxbow Books in 2019. Specialisms include ceramics (AD 400–1550), medieval boats and maritime archaeology, and medieval and post-medieval artefacts. 300 b/w and colour illustrations

Full Product Details

Author:   Mark Redknap
Publisher:   Casemate Publishers
Imprint:   Casemate Publishers
ISBN:  

9798888571972

Pages:   728
Publication Date:   31 January 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Summaries (Welsh, French, German) Section 1. Introduction and Setting 1. The Site and its Setting 2. Discovery of the Sites Section 2. The Excavations 3. Survey and the Excavation Strategy (1994–2001, 2004, 2012) 4. The Sites and their Excavated Features 5. Dating and Chronology 6. Structural Timber Section 3. Archaeozoology and Environments 7. Palaeoenvironmental Evidence 8. Archaeozoological Evidence: The Faunal Assemblages Section 4. The Human Remains 9. The Human Remains and their Analyses 10. The Human Remains: Wider Contexts and Meanings Section 5. Prehistoric and Roman Artefacts 11. The Prehistoric Artefacts 12. The Roman Artefacts 13. The Roman Coins, by Edward Besly Section 6. Early Medieval Artefacts 14. Items of Commerce and Exchange 15. Items of Dress and Personal Appearance 16. Personal Possessions, Toiletry and Hygiene 17. Items of Hospitality and Leisure 18. Household/Personal Equipment 19. Food Preparation 20. Weapons and Horse Equipment 21. Structural Fittings and Related Items 22. Miscellaneous Objects of Uncertain Function Section 7. Evidence for Craft Activities 23. Tools and Implements 24. Early Medieval Metalworking Crafts 25. Early Medieval Textile Production 26. Bone, Antler and Leatherworking Section 8. PostSettlement Finds (Medieval and Later) From Glyn, Llanbedrgoch 27. Medieval Finds 28. Postmedieval Artefacts 28. Objects of Uncertain Date Section 9. Llanbedrgoch in Context 29. Prehistoric and Roman Anglesey by Andrew Davidson and GAT 30. Early Medieval Kingdoms and Historical Contexts 31. Primary Sources 32. The Significance of Llanbedrgoch Appendix 1. Context Summary Appendix 2. Key Stratigraphic Matrices Appendix 3. Glossary of terminology Appendix 4. Inventory of the Human Bone Appendix 5. XRF of metalwork Appendix 6. Petrographic analysis of prehistoric pottery, by Dr John Ll. W. Williams and Dr David Jenkins Bibliography Index

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Author Information

Mark Redknap was appointed Curator of Medieval and Later Archaeology at the National Museum of Wales (now Amgueddfa Cymru) in 1988, later becoming Head of Research in the Department of History and Archaeology until October 2023. An archaeologist and finds specialist, he has been lead curator for numerous exhibitions based at the National Museum Cardiff. His recent research focus has been on early medieval and medieval Wales and he published Llangorse Crannog with Oxbow Books in 2019. Specialisms include ceramics (AD 400–1550), medieval boats and maritime archaeology, and medieval and postmedieval artefacts.

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