Archaeology Economy And Society

Many books have been written on particular aspects of medieval archaeology, or on particular parts of the period, but synthesis across the whole spectrum has not been attempted before. The aim of this book is to examine the contribution that archaeology can make to an understanding of the social, economic, religious and other developments that took place in England from the migrations of the fifth and sixth centuries to the beginning of the Renaissance, showing how society and economy evolved in that time-span. Drawing on the latest available material, the book takes a chronological approach to the archaeological material of the post-Roman period in order to emphasize the changes that can be observed in the physical evidence and some of the reasons for them that can be suggested. The environment in which people functioned and how they expressed themselves - for example in their houses and burial practices, their pottery and their clothes - show how they were constrained by social customs and economic pressures.

This book examines the contribution of archaeology to the study of the social, economic, religious, and other developments in England from the end of the Roman period at the start of the fifth century to the beginnings of the Renaissance at the end of the fifteenth. The first edition of the book was published in 1990, and remains the only synthesis of the whole spectrum of medieval archaeology. This new edition is completely rewritten and extended, but uses the same chronological approach to investigate how society and economy evolved. It draws on a wide range of new data, derived from excavation, investigation of buildings, metal-detecting, and scientific techniques. It examines the social customs, economic pressures, and environmental constraints within which people functioned, the technology available to them, and how they expressed themselves, for example in their houses, their burial customs, their costume, and their material possessions such as pottery. Their adaptation to new circumstances, whether caused by human factors such as the re-emergence of towns or changing taxation requirements, or by external ones such as volcanic activity or the Black Death, is explored throughout each chapter. The new edition of Archaeology, Economy and Society remains essential reading for students and researchers of the archaeology of Medieval England.

This book studies past economics from anthropological, archaeological, historical and sociological perspectives. By analyzing archeological and other evidence, it examines economic behavior and institutions in ancient societies. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, it critically discusses dominant economic models that have influenced the study of past economic relations in various disciplines, while at the same time highlighting alternative theoretical trajectories. In this regard, the book’s goal is not only to test theoretical models under scrutiny, but also to present evidence against the rationalization of past economic behavior according to the rules of modern markets. The contributing authors cover various topics, such as trade in the classical Greek world, concepts of commodity and value, and management of economic affluence.

This book brings together a classic collection of Andrew Sherratt's work on the economic foundations of prehistoric Europe, which have put forward important new ideas about the development of farming, pastoralism, early technology and trade. In a series of contributions that have included wide-ranging syntheses and detailed local studies, he discusses their implications for the understanding of settlement-patterns, social structures, material culture, and less tangible aspects of prehistoric life such as the spread of languages and the use of narcotics.

Many books have been written on particular aspects of medieval archaeology, or on particular parts of the period, but synthesis across the whole spectrum has not been attempted before. The aim of this book is to examine the contribution that archaeology can make to an understanding of the social, economic, religious and other developments that took place in England from the migrations of the fifth and sixth centuries to the beginning of the Renaissance, showing how society and economy evolved in that time-span. Drawing on the latest available material, the book takes a chronological approach to the archaeological material of the post-Roman period in order to emphasize the changes that can be observed in the physical evidence and some of the reasons for them that can be suggested. The environment in which people functioned and how they expressed themselves - for example in their houses and burial practices, their pottery and their clothes - show how they were constrained by social customs and economic pressures.

Includes papers presented at a conference entitled "Economic archaeology, towards an integrated approach," held at New Hall, Cambridge, in January 1979.

Explains how recent scientific advances have revolutionised our understanding of prehistoric diet, economy and society.