Overview

Following the collapse of Roman Britain, early medieval England shows little evidence for complex hierarchy or supra-regional socio-political units for nearly two hundred years, until the turn of the 7th century, when the documented emergence of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms is seemingly confirmed by the sudden appearance of the first high-status settlements – the so-called great hall complexes. This book explores the role of great hall complexes in kingdom formation through an expansive and ambitious study, incorporating new fieldwork, new quantitative methodologies and new theoretical models for the emergence of high-status settlements and the formation and consolidation of supra-regional socio-political units. This study begins with a comparative analysis of all known great hall complexes, through which evidence is presented for a broad chronological development, paralleling and contributing to the development of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The wider context of great hall complexes is then explored through a regional case study, charting the development of socio-economic power in the burials and settlements of the Upper Thames Valley, before situating the great hall complexes within this development. Ultimately, an overarching theoretical explanation is proposed for the emergence, development and abandonment of the great hall complexes, linking these sites with the development of a new elite ideology, the integration of new supra-regional communities and the consolidation of the newly formed Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

Full Product Details

Author:   Adam McBride
Publisher:   Archaeopress
Imprint:   Archaeopress
Weight:   1.269kg
ISBN:  

9781789693874

ISBN 10:   178969387
Pages:   370
Publication Date:   31 January 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

List of Figures ; Preface and Acknowledgements ; Chapter 1: Introduction ; Part I: Great Hall Complexes in Comparison ; Chapter 2: The Characteristics and Functions of Great Hall Complexes ; Chapter 3: The Emergence, Development and Obsolescence of Great Hall Complexes ; Part II: Great Hall Complexes in Context ; Power and Place in the Upper Thames Valley ; Chapter 4: Burial Methodology ; Chapter 5: Power in Burial ; Chapter 6: Settlement Methodology ; Chapter 7: Power in Settlement ; Chapter 8: Great Hall Complexes in Context ; Appendix 1: The Cemeteries ; Appendix 2: The Burials Methodology ; Appendix 3: The Settlements (including cropmark sites) ; Bibliography ; Primary Sources ; Secondary Sources

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Author Information

Adam McBride completed his DPhil in archaeology at the University of Oxford in 2019. During his doctoral studies, Adam collaborated with Helena Hamerow and Jane Harrison on the excavation of a high-status early medieval complex at Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire, UK. Adam previously worked in CRM/commercial archaeology in the Southeast United States, after completing an MPhil at the University of Cambridge.

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