Anglo Saxon

The origins of kingship have typically been accepted as a natural or inevitable development by scholars. The purpose of this thesis is to question that assumption. This work will re-examine the origins of early Anglo-Saxon kingship through a coherent and systematic survey of the available and pertinent archaeological and historical sources, addressing them by type, by period and as their varying natures require.

The thesis begins with the archaeological evidence. ‘Elite’ burials, such as Mound One, Sutton Hoo, will be ranked according to their probability of kingliness. This process will point to elite burial as being a regionally-specific, predominately seventh-century, phenomenon of an ideologically-aware, sophisticated and established political institution. Consequently, elite burial cannot be seen as an indication of the origins of kingship, but can instead be interpreted as a development or experiment within kingship. Analysis of ‘elite’ settlements, such as Yeavering, and numismatic evidence, will lead to similar conclusions. Further, consideration of various other settlement types – former Roman military sites in Northern Britain, former Roman Towns, and enclosed settlements – will point to various potential origins of Anglo-Saxon kingship in the form of continuities with previous Roman, Romano-British or British power structures.

The thesis will go on to consider the historical sources. Those of the fifth and sixth centuries, primarily Gildas’s De excidio et conquestu Britanniae, point to several factors of note. The cessation of formal imperial rule over Britain following c.410 effectively created a power vacuum. Various new sources of political power are observable attempting to fill this vacuum, one of which, ultimately, was kingship. Through analogy with contemporary British kingdoms, it is possible to suggest that this development of kingship in England may be placed in the early sixth, if not the fifth, centuries. This would make the origins of Anglo-Saxon kingship significantly earlier than typically thought. This kingship was characterised by the conduct of warfare, its dependence on personal relationships, and particularly by its varying degrees of status and differing manifestations of power covered by the term king.

Further details will be added to this image through the narrative and documentary sources of the seventh and early eighth centuries. These predominately shed light on the subsequent development of kingship, particularly its growing association with Christianity. Indeed, the period around c.600 can be highlighted as one of notable change within Anglo-Saxon kingship. However, it is possible to point to the practice of food rents, tolls and the control of resources serving as an economic foundation for kingship, while legal intervention and claimed descent from gods also provide a potential basis of power. Several characteristics of seventh- and early-eighth-century kingship will also be highlighted as being relevant to its origins – the conduct of warfare and the exercise of over-kingship – relating to the general propensity for amalgamation through conquest.

Other trajectories are also highlighted, specifically continuity from previous Roman and British entities and the development of ‘pop-up’ kingdoms. The overall result is one in which long-term amalgamation and short-term disintegration and re-constitution were equally in evidence, set against the wider context of broad regional continuities. Overall, therefore, the thesis will not fully resolve the issue of the origins of Anglo-Saxon kingship, but it does offer a means to re-frame discussion, explore the social and economic underpinnings of kingship and assess its primacy as an institution
within early Anglo-Saxon England.

The past is commonly summoned in political speeches and projects. The medieval past has been used as the cradle of nation-states and ‘the West’. This article will address how the Anglo-Saxon past has been used, from the seventeenth century to contemporary discourse. It will discuss how the view(s) and use(s) of this past have changed significantly over time, to the point that its very name has recently been challenged. The main hypothesis of the article is that despite all the debates about early medieval society in Britain, there is still a great need to highlight the connection between the interpretation of this past and racial discourses. The study of such societies in a new light is crucial for rescuing the Middle Ages from its uses by the far right.

Anglo-Saxons valued education yet understood how precarious it could be, alternately bolstered and undermined by fear, desire, and memory. They praised their teachers in official writing, but composed and translated scenes of instruction that revealed the emotional and cognitive complexity of learning. Irina Dumitrescu explores how early medieval writers used fictional representations of education to explore the relationship between teacher and student. These texts hint at the challenges of teaching and learning: curiosity, pride, forgetfulness, inattention, and despair. Still, these difficulties are understood to be part of the dynamic process of pedagogy, not simply a sign of its failure. The book demonstrates the enduring concern of Anglo-Saxon authors with learning throughout Old English and Latin poems, hagiographies, histories, and schoolbooks.

110 Syracuse Law Review [Vol. 50:109 D. Chewed by the Tooth of Disputation 164 1. From Allegory to Authority 166 2. From Redemption to Deterrence 169 III. TRACES: THE RISE OF THE JURY TRIAL IN ENGLAND 172 A. Role of Mercy in English Jurisprudence , 174 B. Kinship ...

Excavations at Cliffs End Farm undertaken in 2004/5 uncovered a dense area of archaeological remains including Bronze Age barrows and enclosures, a large prehistoric mortuary feature, and a small early 6th to late 7th century Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery. An extraordinary series of human and animal remains were recovered from the Late Bronze Age–Middle Iron Age mortuary feature, revealing a wealth of evidence for mortuary rites including exposure, excarnation and curation. The site seems to have been largely abandoned in the later Iron Age and very little Romano-British activity was identified. In the early 6th century a small inhumation cemetery was established. Very little human bone survived within the 21 graves, where the burial environment differed from that within the prehistoric mortuary feature, but grave goods indicate ‘females’ and ‘males’ were buried here. Richly furnished graves included that of a ‘female’ buried with a necklace, a pair of brooches and a purse, as wel...

This study reports upon the compositional analysis of early Anglo-Saxon (5th-7th centuries AD) glass beads from the cemetery complex at RAF Lakenheath (Eriswell), Suffolk. Major element analysis was undertaken using energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry in the scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS) on 537 samples from a total of 380 monochrome and polychrome beads. Trace element analysis was undertaken by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LAICP- MS) on 75 different samples from 65 of these beads. SEM-EDS analyses are also reported for a small number of glass beads from the early Anglo-Saxon cemeteries at Spong Hill, Bergh Apton and Morning Thorpe in Norfolk. The beads analysed were produced from soda-lime-silica glass, which was originally made in the Near East from a mixture of a natron and calcareous quartz-rich sand. They have been grouped and compared according to the base glass types represented and their colourant technology. These groups have been systematically compared to a well-established typology and chronology for these beads. The results demonstrate that the Anglo-Saxon glass bead industry was dependent upon the recycling of Roman material during the 5th and 6th centuries, but there is no evidence to suggest continuity in the glass industry from the preceding Roman period. Imported bead types were probably manufactured using a fresh supply of raw glass imported from the Near East. At some point in the latter half of the 6th century there appears to have been a drastic and rapid change in beadmaking practices. The Anglo-Saxon beadmaking industry in England appears to have largely collapsed, except for the production of a few crude bead types produced in the 7th century. Imported bead types come to dominate, but natron glass appears to have been in short supply by this time;

Excavations undertaken by Wessex Archaeology at Whitelands Farm south-west of Bicester revealed a multiperiod site ranging from the early Bronze Age to the midSaxon period. A total of 18 areas were investigated but the density of features across the site was very varied. Area 1 contained a scatter of middle to late Iron Age settlement features, a rock cut ditch and pit clusters. Most ditches, pits and post-holes recorded in Area 7 were late Iron Age and reveal evidence for settlement and agriculture, the exceptions being a Romano-British ditch and a Beaker burial.

This study investigated stable-isotope ratio evidence of weaning for the late Anglo-Saxon population of Raunds Furnells, Northamptonshire, UK. δ(15)N and δ(13)C values in rib collagen were obtained for individuals of different ages to assess the weaning age of infants within the population. A peak in δ(15) N values at about 2-year-old, followed by a decline in δ(15) N values until age three, indicates a change in diet at that age. This change in nitrogen isotope ratios corresponds with the mortality profile from the site, as well as with archaeological and documentary evidence on attitudes towards juveniles in the Anglo-Saxon period. The pattern of δ(13) C values was less clear. Comparison of the predicted age of weaning to published data from sites dating from the Iron Age to the 19th century in Britain reveals a pattern of changing weaning practices over time, with increasingly earlier commencement and shorter periods of complementary feeding in more recent periods. Such a change ...

In Early Anglo-Saxon England, Style I anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs played a key role in shaping identity and communicating ideas in a non-literate society. While the zoomorphic designs are well discussed, the meaning of the human element of Style I remains underexplored. This paper addresses this imbalance by examining a rare and overlooked group of anthropomorphic images: human faces with small, pointed ears depicted on fifth- to sixth-century female dress fittings recovered from archaeological contexts in eastern England. This paper identifies quadrupedal creatures as a stylistic parallel within the menagerie of Style I, including equine, lupine and porcine creatures. Although it is difficult to identify the character/s depicted with ears, there are notable affinities between the anthropomorphic masculine face with pointed ears and the ancient Germanic practice of warriors donning wolf and bear pelts. The facial motif with pointed ears appears on feminine metalwork within...

Correlation between features excavated in advance of a gas pipeline, and cropmarks photographed some years previously, led to identification of a Saxon rural settlement, occupied from the sixth or seventh century through to the mid-ninth century. It comprised several interconnected enclosures, adjacent to two main trackways. A narrow strip was excavated through the settlement, and five possible sunken-featured buildings, and numerous ditches and pits, were recorded—most ditches delineated enclosures which had been repeatedly redefined. The pottery assemblage spanned the transition between regional early Saxon and middle Saxon wares. Prehistoric occupation in the vicinity was evidenced by pottery (including beakers), flints and a bronze dagger jragment.

In this paper, I explore one subgenre of homiletic writing in Anglo-Saxon England, that of the “exhortation of the dead to the living.” These exhortations involve the corpse (usually decayed) addressing those who have come to gawk at it, delivering a lecture on the perishable human body and permanence of one’s eternal fate. My analysis builds on two fields: first, the appearance of the exhortation motif in Anglo-Saxon writing and material culture; and second, death studies and archaeologies that explore the agency of the dead body in directing the behavior of the living. In doing so, I develop a broader picture about ways in which “the dead”—both bodies and souls—function as members of the “city of God,” acting in concert with the living to reinforce community ties. By exploring this spectacle, in which the ultimate passive object becomes an agent and speaking party, turning the gaze of assessment back on its viewers, forcing its audience to consider their own mortality and the stab...

Textual, archaeological, and art historical evidence all point to a significant reorganization of Anglo-Saxon society in the tenth and eleventh centuries. Changes in landownership, the development of proto-urban centers, the growth of merchant and artisan classes, as well as the proliferation of occupations associated with royal and regional administration, collectively altered the Anglo-Saxon social order. This radical reorganization benefitted some groups of individuals and threatened others with decreased social standing. Established elites and the nouvuae riche utilized exclusionary measures to counter any degree of social mobility provided by economic and political changes. Shifting hunting practices and perceptions are particularly emblematic of this sharpening social division. Assessing Late Saxon society through evidence linked to hunting demonstrates that many of the developments typically associated with the Norman Conquest began in the tenth and eleventh century. Late Sax...

The church at West Mersea, on Mersea Island, was an Anglo-Saxon minster first documented in the later 10th century, but there are signs of earlier origins. The island was accessed by a causeway dated by dendrochronology to the end of the 7th century, while investigation of the fabric of the church indicates that the constructional technique of the lower nave north wall is similar to that of the neighbouring late-7th-century church of St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea. Though the evidence is circumstantial, the church at West Mersea may have been built at the same date. The church occupies the site of a very extensive Roman villa complex. This was largely revealed by 18th-century antiquarian activity, which resulted in inevitable destruction of deposits and only vague accounts of features. Nevertheless, an approximate idea of the extent of the villa can be realised. East of the villa was a Roman wheel-tomb supported by twelve buttresses. The latter could have been (re)interpreted in a Christian context, the buttresses symbolising the Apostles.

This thesis examines the warp weighted loom during the Anglo-Saxon and Viking eras in England through archaeological, linguistic, and art evidence, supported by similar information about the loom from Northern Continental Europe. Some evidence from other parts of the world where this specific type of loom was used is also included for clarity. In order to further understanding of the possible functioning and abilities of the loom, modern individuals with experience weaving with this early medieval technology were sought out to answer a questionnaire. The analysis of data gathered is supported with evidence from interviews of some of the respondents. The weavers who answered the questionnaire were primarily associated with the living history or re-enactment movements; therefore a history of these movements and their goals is also included. An analysis of the responses to the questionnaire, including thoughts about how these answers might advance academic understanding of the loom, co...

Extraordinary objects, things that convey collective narratives as well as a record of conservation evoke extraordinary feelings. Both the physical characteristics of the objects and the myths surrounding them may increase their meaning, lending them an inherent power. The design, language of form, as well as the materials used are essential elements in creating the objects’ charisma and in forming the stories that are told about them. The present volume explores the concept of charismatic objects and their material world through nine papers focusing on historical examples dating from the Roman Period to the late Middle Ages. Press link to get Open Access

Preface. Acknowledgements. Abbreviations. Part I. Contexts and Perspectives:. 1. An Introduction to the Corpus of Anglo--Saxon Vernacular English: Elaine Treharne (Florida State University) and Phillip Pulsiano (Villanova University). 2. An Introduction to the Corpus of Anglo--Latin Literature: Joseph P. McGowan (University of San Diego). 3. Transmission of Literature and Learning: Anglo Saxon Scribal Culture: Jonathan Wilcox (University of Iowa). 4. Authorship and Anonymity: Mary Swan (University of Leeds). 5. Audience(s), Reception, Literacy: Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast). 6. Anglo--Saxon Manuscript Production: Issues of Making and Using: Michelle P. Brown (British Library). Part II. Readings: Cultural Framework and Heritage:. 7. The Germanic Background: Patrizia Lendinara (University of Palermo). 8. Religious Context: Pre--Benedictine Reform Period: Susan Irvine (University College London). 9. The Benedictine Reform and Beyond: Joyce Hill (University of Leeds). 10. Legal and Documentary Writings: Carole Hough (University of Glasgow). 11. Scientific and Medical Writings: Stephanie Hollis (University of Auckland). 12. Prayers, Glosses and Glossaries: Phillip Pulsiano (Villanova University). Part III.Genre and Modes:. 13. Religious Prose: Roy M. Liuzza (University of Tennessee at Knoxville). 14. Religious Poetry: Patrick W. Conner (West Virginia University). 15. Secular Prose: Donald G. Scragg (University of Manchester). 16. Secular Poetry: Fred C. Robinson (Yale University). 17. Anglo--Latin Prose: Joseph P. McGowan (University of San Diego). Part IV. Intertextualities: Sources and Influences:. 18. Biblical and Patristic Learning: Tom Hall (University of Illinois at Chicago). 19. The Irish Tradition: Charles D. Wright (University of Illinois at Urbana--Champaign). 20. Germanic Influences: Rolf Bremmer (University of Leiden). 21. Scandinavian Relations: Robert E. Bjork (Arizona State University). Part V. Debates and Issues:. 22. English in the Post--Conquest Period: Elaine Treharne (Florida State University). 23. Anglo--Saxon Studies: Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries: Timothy Graham (University of New Mexico). 24. Anglo--Saxon Studies in the Nineteenth Century: England, Denmark, America: J. R. Hall (Notre Dame University in Indiana). 25. Anglo--Saxon Studies in the Nineteenth Century: Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Hans Sauer (LM University, Munich). 26. By the Numbers: Anglo--Saxon Scholarship at the Centurya s End: Allen Frantzen (Loyola University Chicago). 27. The New Millennium: Nicholas Howe (Ohio State University). Selected Further Reading. Index

This study investigates the emergence of corporate governance reforms in emerging markets largely in line with the Anglo-Saxon Model of Corporate Governance using Sri Lanka as a case. Accordingly the objectives of the study are two-fold: the examination of Sri Lankan listed companies’ compliance with the Anglo-Saxon Model and the assessment of the issues involved in the application of this model in the Sri Lankan context. The level of compliance was examined via the corporate governance index developed in the study based on the Anglo-Saxon Model. Thereafter, the firm-level evidence on the level of compliance was analyzed descriptively by drawing inferences from the extant literature. The study finds an improvement in the leverage level of compliance of Sri Lankan listed companies over the years with the AngloSaxon Model. However, there is a considerable gap between this average level and the maximum possible level of compliance mainly owing to the significantly low level of complian...

... 6 Feldman, Thalia Phillies, see sect. }bii Fell, Christine E., 'Old English beor', Leeds Stud, in Eng. ... 3W (three entries) Peeters, C, 'Nederlands spade,Oergermaans *spado[ri)\ Spel van Zinnen: Album A. van Loey, ed. R. Jansen-Sieben et al. (Brussels, 1975), pp. ...