Anglo-Saxon artefacts

Module leader: Tania Dickinson

Overview

Portable artefacts (from the humble or crude to the luxurious and virtuoso) are a major component of the material record for Anglo-Saxon England and have always been a crucial target of research into this period. This is as true of the Early Anglo-Saxon period (5th to 7th centuries) when burial with grave-goods dominates the visible record, as for the Middle Saxon period (7th to early 9th centuries) when that source dries up but a diversifying range of settlement- and artefact-types provides new opportunities for analysis. These artefacts provide routes to all manner of interpretations: from typologies, traditionally geared to dating, through explication of manufacturing technologies, to their combination with contextual and analogous evidence in order to reconstruct cultural narratives, economic and social structures and even ways of thinking about the world. By focussing on these five centuries, the seminars offer both an education in primary Anglo-Saxon source material, its analysis and interpretation, and a good case-study of archaeological approaches to artefacts in general.

Aims

The module will specifically lay a foundation of knowledge about the portable artefacts which characterise the archaeological record for England in the Early and Middle Saxon periods (c. 400-850AD), and provide an opportunity to learn about some in detail. It will explore themes in their archaeological analysis and interpretation, and in particular connections between how they were produced, used and thought about - their 'makings' and 'meanings' - and the workings of Anglo-Saxon society in general

Learning outcomes

By completion of the module the successful participant will have demonstrated the ability to:

  • Demonstrate that they are familiar with the literature on the archaeology of Anglo-Saxon artefacts
  • Exhibit a firm understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues related to the archaeological study of Anglo-Saxon artefacts
  • Show familiarity with a wide range of case studies
  • Demonstrate in depth knowledge of a topic of their choosing
  • Pick out the key issues in their chosen topic
  • Prepare a worksheet which sets out key reading and issues for presentation, debate and discussion, and support the group in the preparation of the seminar
  • Chair a seminar, engage interest in the topic, stimulate debate and structure discussion
  • Have a critical awareness of the process of collective debate on a specific topic
  • Be able to judge the general 'success' of the seminar, and to be able to reflect on this, through a written summary of a seminar
  • Present PowerPoint presentations on other subjects within the general theme and contribute informed ideas and information to the other seminars
 
Cuddesdon glass bowl