Description
In this issue:
– Writing England: the Anglo-Saxons in their own words
– Sifting the rubbish of London’s medieval waterfront
– Excavating First World War practice trenches
– Investigating Ava: life and death in Copper Age Caithness
– Jean and genetics: commemorating Jean Manco’s place in the Anglo-Saxon world
Plus: News, Reviews, Comment, Sherds, Odd Socs, and more!
From the Editor:
Between the end of the Roman occupation of Britain and the Norman Conquest, England changed beyond recognition. Rival Anglo-Saxon kingdoms vied for primacy, but also produced objects of astonishing artistry including, after Christianity returned to these shores, ostentatiously ornate manuscripts. Our cover story traces the evolution of England through these written and material clues.
If gospel books, charters, and elite artefacts can yield invaluable information, so too can the detritus of everyday life. A long-running research project has been sifting the Thames-side rubbish dumped by generations of medieval Londoners.
Very little in the way of refuse was, however, found during excavations at Barry Buddon – as befits a military site. There, archaeologists and veteran volunteers from Operation Nightingale have been exploring First World War-era practice trenches.
From the wider landscape of warfare, we next turn to a much more personal story. The remains of a young woman who lived and died in Caithness over 4,000 years ago were first discovered around three decades back, but no formal report was ever published. What can modern science reveal about this individual?
‘Individual’ was certainly a word to be applied to the late Jean Manco. Despite having no formal genetics training, her books raised important questions about this field. The last of these concerned the Anglo-Saxons – we explore the evolution of Anglo-Saxon archaeology, and Jean’s place in this landscape.
Finally: voting is now open for the CA Awards! Go hereto find out how to have your say, and here for preliminary details of the timetable for our annual conference.
Carly Hilts
Cover Date: Jan-2019, Volume 29 Issue 10