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This paper firstly presents Statement Archaeology, an innovative and rigorous method devised to systematically operationalise the approach to historical exploration used by Michel Foucault in pursuit of the question "how do certain practices become possible at particular moments in history?" Drawing on an analysis of the theoretical basis of Foucault's broad – and arguably equivocal – approach, a series of methodological procedures by which it can be systematically operationalised are set out. These focus on the interrogation of "statements", through a series of questions, against three criteria: Formation, Transformation, and Correlation. Secondly, through the use of a specific policy development in English Religious Education as an exemplar, the paper establishes the potential of the approach. Deploying Statement Archaeology in relation to this example reveals that the change under investigation became possible at a nexus of changes in the rules of what is thinkable and unthinkable within different domains of discourse, and complex and messy processes of changing legitimacies and normalisations, with previously unacknowledged policy-influencers playing an important role. Many existing accounts of this change have overlooked these matters. The paper concludes by arguing that Statement Archaeology has potential significance in any domain of enquiry that seeks answers to the question "how did this particular practice become possible at that particular moment?" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case study of finger rings and pendants from England and Wales from the period 1400–1700, which have been recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, and that feature the shape of the heart or inscriptions of the word 'heart'. The paper explores how these objects can inform us about the embodied experience, perception and expression of love and other emotions in the period in question, and how this reflects contemporary medical and popular ideas held about the heart. It also discusses more generally how objects actively communicated and invoked emotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, the University of Birmingham, UK, hosted a weekend of events for the Association for Environmental Archaeology (AEA)'s spring conference 'Pests of Society'. The event was organised in collaboration with Historic England – the publicly-funded 'Arms-Length Body' with statutory responsibility for the historic environment in England. During the course of the one day conference and workshop the following day, multiple aspects were covered of how pests have interacted, and continue to interact, with humans and their day-to-day activities, as well as their presence in the wider landscape. This paper outlines and describes the meeting, introducing the range of topics covered, and summarises the papers that have been published in the resulting special issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeologists in the UK work in a variety of structures, but all archaeology is for the benefit of the public. Since 1990 the majority of archaeological work has been undertaken as part of the planning process. A complex system has evolved which attempts to deliver wider public benefit. There are differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the underlying principles are broadly the same across the UK. In 2020 radical changes were proposed to the planning system in England which could potentially impact on both the archaeological profession and the public benefits it generates. This paper outlines the evolution and operation of the current UK system with particular reference to England, and highlights some changes that the new proposals could make to the status quo. Some structural issues are highlighted which will need to be overcome for archaeologists to improve things for themselves and for the society they serve in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental and climate change education remains on the margins of education and climate change policy. This paper draws on Foucauldian theoretical resources to examine England's climate change education policy landscape and understand the causes of this marginalisation. Informed by policy historiography, we examine key events and shifts in climate change, education and environmental education since the turn of the millennium. Using policy archaeology, we 'excavate' the contemporary policy landscape and identify that: i) policy is lacking; ii) responding to the climate crisis is overlooked in education; iii) pro-environmental ambition is absent; and, iv) economic values dominate. In a global context where activists have called for 'more!' climate change education, the analyses reveal the complexity of the problem. A 'web of conditions' governing climate change education policy is illuminated. Foucault-informed analytical tools offer insights on how this web may be rebuilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Roman Pottery Studies is the property of Casemate Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research frameworks for archaeology in the UK have a long history. Since the 1990s research frameworks have been developed in formal programmes initially driven by state heritage bodies. These were intended to facilitate better decision-making in development-driven archaeological projects, and to provide an interface between archaeologists. However the effectiveness of such frameworks is limited by a number of constraints. These include 'internal' boundaries created by historic environment professionals: chronological borders; professional borders; disciplinary borders; and borders limiting access and regulating control. There are also boundaries created by others, which include institutional and resourcing constraints as well as the geographical limits of modern administrative boundaries. This paper discusses these issues through the prism of the border region between England and Wales, a borderland zone with long histories of conflict and co-operation. Some suggestions are offered for future changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Improve understanding of the links between biological variables (sex, body size and anatomical position) and adaptive remodelling of autopodia, and the identification of traction use in the archaeological record., Methods: A modified version of the recording system for identifying draught cattle in the archaeological record (Bartosiewicz et al., 1997) was applied to a sample of 1509 bones from six sites from medieval England. Analysis focused on identifying correlations between pathological and sub-pathological changes in lower-limb bones in relation to anatomy, sex and body mass., Results: A correlation between sex, body mass and lower limb bone changes was demonstrated. The need to consider anterior and posterior limb bone elements separately to maximise the potential for identifying cattle used for traction was identified. Changes in hindlimb elements were highlighted as the most useful indicator of draught use., Contribution: This study provides new, detailed evidence for a previously poorly understood correlation between the effects of anatomical position, sex and body size and the nature of skeletal changes traditionally associated with draught cattle. It pulls together findings and makes comprehensive suggestions for future studies., Limitations: This is a purely methodological paper. Although general results are presented, there is insufficient space to include a full case study. This will be published separately within the results of the FeedSax project., Further Research: Future studies into the use of cattle for draught purposes in the past should take in to account the sex and size of the animals under consideration, and analyse anterior and posterior elements separately., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The past decade has seen many calls for the development of unified ‘world historical archaeologies’ of the past 500 years. While the field benefits from growing international exchanges and collaborations, retaining the diversity of regional traditions is a major and emerging challenge. As the field increasingly tests the temporal, geographical and interdisciplinary limits of archaeological perspectives, engaging with the diversity of modern material, these complexities remain little discussed, and the situations and contingencies of disciplinary narratives, priorities and interactions remain unproblematized. Exploring these matters, this paper considers transatlantic interactions between British and North American traditions of historical archaeology over the past two decades, journeying between two garden landscapes – in Annapolis and Bristol. After considering Mark Leone's 1984 study of the William Paca garden in Annapolis, Maryland, and its subsequent reinterpretations, the paper discusses an eighteenth-century ‘eclectic’ garden at Goldney in Bristol. The paper argues that situational and ‘symmetrical’, rather than interpretative, approaches to archaeological material would aid the development of multi-vocal and inclusive ‘world historical archaeologies’, acknowledging and celebrating the archaeological complexities that are encountered in the past and the disciplinary present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will explore a modern example of the tradition of constructing cities and sacred sites as reflections or embodiments of the sky. By creating spaces which were connected to the celestial bodies it was possible to create human communities which were linked to celestial ones, encouraging social stability and harmony. Such ideas underpinned traditions of the foundation of cities from China, through India, the Middle East and Mesoamerica. The paper focuses on Avon Tyrrell House, a substantial private residence which was designed and built in 1891-93. The architect, William Lethaby (1857-1931), was part of the Arts and Crafts movement and one of England's leading modernists. The paper will frame discussion of the building within notions of the continuity of ancient traditions of solar symbolism in architecture, the consideration of function in the archaeology of the present and immediate past, and will refer to the theory of vernacular and material religion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the National Parks of England and Wales are a resource for archaeology research. The national parks are publicly-owned wilderness areas, but the public have limited access. Conservation work has to be carried out in the context of management agreements rather than a wider range of options available to sites in public ownership.

This paper presents a personal view of the problems that archaeologists will face as a result of the UK leaving the EU (Brexit). These problems will affect all levels of our discipline, including students, researchers and academics, as well as field archaeologists, and impact equally on both non-domiciled archaeologists working in the UK and UK archaeologists working in other EU countries. The paper suggests that there are opportunities for archaeologists from many different sectors to unite in tackling the difficulties that may arise through the Brexit process, and such opportunities should also embrace tackling other problems affecting our discipline, particularly with regard to issues of diversity and equality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Embroidery made and used in early medieval England (c. 450–1100) was considered fine art. Today 43 surviving examples known or believed to have been made in early medieval England have been stylistically and technically analysed, and placed within chronological timeframes. Recently the embroideries and their makers' positions within early medieval society have also been explored, and 'life' biographies have been written for some pieces. Until now, the viewers' experiences of encountering and interacting with embroidery have never been fully investigated. This paper uses sensory archaeology as a technique to access the early medieval 'mindset' in order to explore how people actually engaged with embroidery as opposed to what each piece was meant to show or tell them. The early 10th-century embroidered stole and maniple, which were rediscovered in the tomb of St Cuthbert in Durham Cathedral in the 19th century, are used as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revival of monasticism in the eleventh century promoted greater seclusion of monks and the re-positioning of care offered to the community. The increasing prevelance of leprosy also prompted the development of hospitals as independent foundations. These factors contributed to the establishment of over 1000 hospitals in England during the medieval period (AD 1050–1550). Documentary evidence relating to the inhabitants of these sites, particularly non-adults, is scarce. Over the past twenty years, archaeological excavations and bioarchaeological studies of medieval hospital cemeteries across England, have produced an increasing body of evidence which is revealing new information about hospital inhabitants. This paper will provide an overview of current approaches to the study of non-adults buried at medieval hospitals from historical, archaeological and bioarchaeological perspectives. Consideration is given to the theoretical and scientific advances in these areas, and the potential of osteological methods to enhance our knowledge of non-adults in hospital populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights key characteristics of memorialisation processes linked to dying and death. The study demonstrates that, in all periods, the mnemonic triggers engendered by multi-sensory experiences surrounding the treatment of the dead serve as fundamental elements of the memorialisation processes which generate lasting impacts on the living through people's engagement 'in a collective social act'. Roles attributed to the dead are 'active and powerful', and the links between the living and the dead are imbued with myriad meanings, articulated through a variety of activities. These resonate across time and exist in many aspects of contemporary practice. We could argue that dying itself is not simply a social process, and in reality, it is an inherently, and on occasion an aggressively, anti-social act that is negotiated and 'normalised' by the social conventions that society has developed to cope with dying and death. With a focus on the British context, this study explores the ways in which society has dealt with the troublesome and anti-social aspect of death, and dying, through a consideration of past social praxis. It considers the ways in which a broadening of contemporary societies understanding of the variety of approaches to death, burial, bereavement and mourning in a deep time perspective can offer legitimate and authorised options for future practice at a time when there a crisis in available burial space is occurring in England (e.g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across Europe, landscape is recognised as a frame through which societal values are defined and embedded. The European Landscape convention and wider research has drawn attention to the need for integrating a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure landscape sustainability. Archaeology is increasingly recognised as having an important place in integrated landscape management but often remains relatively peripheral. This paper examines the place of archaeology in specific European regions and the potential ways of integrating archaeological heritage in landscape management. Emerging from a project funded by the Joint Programme Initiative on Cultural Heritage (Resituating Europe's FIrst Towns (REFIT): A case study in enhancing knowledge transfer and developing sustainable management of cultural landscapes), we explore the place of a set of common European heritage assets, Iron Age oppida, in the management of the landscape they are a part of and how they might be used better to engage and connect stakeholders. Using four case studies, we review the present integration of archaeology within landscape management and how this operates at a local level. From this we explore what challenges these case-studies present and outline ways in which the REFIT project has sought to develop strategies to respond to these in order to enhance and promote co-productive management of these landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Folia Praehistorica Posnaniensia is the property of Adam Mickiewicz University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The 180th volume of the Archaeological Journal is introduced by the new editor, who expresses gratitude to the previous editor and invites professionals to contribute their field reports and research papers. The journal covers the archaeology of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Eire, spanning from prehistory to contemporary times. The first issue includes papers on Iron Age and Roman settlements, post-Roman occupation and burial practices, the presence of the Greek language in Roman Britain, the origins of wheel-thrown pottery production in ninth-century England, and the symbolism of carving as a mnemonic tool in Early Medieval Scotland. The issue also includes book reviews on various archaeological topics. [Extracted from the article]

Presents information on the International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology and Intelligent Cultural Heritage held in the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton, England from November 5 to 7, 2003. Background on the Excellence in Processing Open Cultural Heritage Network; Topic discussed by Kevin Cain from the U.S. Institute for Study and Implementation of Graphical Heritage Techniques; Number of papers submitted for the symposium.

Archaeological excavations and built heritage recording has been undertaken by Salford Archaeology (based within the Centre for Applied Archaeology, University of Salford) during the construction of a new rail link across the River Irwell between Manchester and Salford, known as the ‘Ordsall Chord’. The new bridge links existing lines of historic importance, and also crosses the extant remains of the world’s first passenger steam railway, the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, being carried over the Grade I designated ‘Stephenson's Bridge’ at approximately deck level. Six further Grade II designated structures were also affected by the scheme, as were the below-ground remains of a dye works that predated the opening of the railway in the 1830s, and a large livestock market that grew adjacent to the improved transport infrastructure provided by the rail network. This paper discusses the archaeological work undertaken on this important early transport hub during the construction programme in 2015-18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public participation in archaeological research is interpreted in various ways in different European states. Even though public participation is promoted by international organizations (e.g. UNESCO and Council of Europe) and the academic community, the extent to which the practitioners can implement these ideas is a matter of what is allowed (or encouraged) by cultural heritage legislation in every country, and of archaeologists' attitudes towards public engagement. This paper considers the English and Italian systems, and in particular the consequences that legislation has on fostering or forbidding public participation, especially in relation to archaeological field research. It will start with a brief comparison of the relationship between the state, archaeological management, and public participation in both countries, then it will examine the legislation regulating archaeological research in England and Italy, to compare the strengths and weaknesses of both systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the history of preservation in situ as practised in London over the last hundred and fifty years. It touches upon the early development of the City of London and the destruction of significant remains, which gradually lead to a heightening of sensitivities and public concern for preservation, particularly of built fabric such as the Roman defences. The role of cases such as the Walbrook Mithraeum and Rose Theatre are discussed, both influential in changing the relationship between development and archaeology. The paper concludes by noting how much we have learnt from past mistakes, but notes that more can be done to make these sites more accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the community excavation organised by Great Yarmouth Museums in Norfolk, England in 2001. It resulted from a period of consultation with a wide range of community representatives within the Borough during the development of the Borough's Heritage Strategy. In 2000, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions published a review of the Indices of Deprivation, Great Yarmouth ranked fifth-worst in ward level intensity out of 354 local authority districts in England, and the excavation took place in the heart of the most deprived area of the town. Consultation showed that those who lived in this area had a strong interest in the past beyond memory and were keen to find out more about it. Above all, they wanted to take part in an excavation and put the objects they found in a new museum. The paper explores common preconceptions of working class attitudes to archaeology and heritage and considers how far these were borne out by work with deprived communities in Great Yarmouth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the topics discussed at the Fifth African Archaeology Research Day (ARRD) held on November 29, 2009 in York, England is presented. Topics include a dynamic research carried out within East Africa's coastal regions. It also discussed the Saharan ethnoarchaeology and the Lalibela within its archaeological landscape.

Between the early 18th century and the mid-19th century the north-west of England was turned from a relatively impoverished backwater to one of the major industrialisation zones in the world. This is thus a key region for understanding the archaeology of the early stages of industrialisation. The area around Manchester was at the heart of this process, which was driven in this region by the mechanisation of the textile industry. The archaeological remains of this industrial transition are not only very extensive but also comparatively early when considered against the classic period of the Industrial Revolution; the decades either side of 1800. This paper discusses this early evidence and the results of a wide-ranging regional survey looking at the archaeology of industrialisation within the textile industry and the role of local tenant farmers in promoting industry in and around Manchester during the 18th century. It highlights a number of key sources of evidence for this period, provides a gazetteer of sites and suggests some future directions for archaeological research into the early industrialisation of this important region. The first part was published in Industrial Archaeology Review XXX.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the evolution of a new approach to an old problem—that of protecting the heritage of moveable archaeological objects—‘portable antiquities’—in England and Wales. It sets out a brief history of attempts to bring forward legislation to protect such finds, charts the rise of metal detecting as an activity and describes the successful process of changing government policy through the Treasure Act 1996. This led to the Portable Antiquities Scheme which has now received full government funding. The paper looks at how this was achieved through the development of what has been described as the largest community archaeology project in the country, which is starting to change public attitudes towards objects from the past. These two initiatives have in fact started to lead to a change in public attitude towards material from the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prominent octagonal buildings in the fourth-century villas at Holcombe (Devon) and Lufton (Somerset) have usually been interpreted as bath-suites. This paper questions this view and suggests that they were linked with early Christian ritual, probably baptism. The exceptional character of these structures in the context of bathing is underlined. Their analogues are most evident in early Christian baptisteries of fourth- and fifth-century date in Gaul and Italy, offering support for linkage between Christian communities in late Roman Britain and those in the adjacent western provinces. Other possible sites of baptisteries in Britain are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the archaeological and analytical study of the laboratory remains from the Officina Chimica of the Old Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Following a contextualisation of this laboratory, founded in the wake of Bacon's utopian idea of Solomon's Temple, it is argued that the assemblage is likely to date from the late seventeenth century and thus be connected to the work of Robert Plot, Christopher White, and, indirectly, Robert Boyle. The analytical study of the equipment reveals that the chymists at the Old Ashmolean obtained crucibles from the best manufacturers in Europe, and that they used these and other utensils for experiments involving mercury, sulphur, zinc, lead glass, manganese, and antimony. The importance of these elements for early modern chymistry is discussed in the light of relevant historical sources, including some of Boyle's chymical texts. Altogether, these finds illustrate some of the rich diversity of experiments that took place in one of the most prominent laboratories of the period, showing strong connections with longstanding alchemical concerns as well as with cutting-edge research and development ventures.

This paper argues that, far from being a 'lost cause' when it comes to the study of medieval church architecture, St Nicholas at Newcastle reveals a considerable amount of its building history and development. It will also be argued, and evidence offered, that the sweeping restoration and rebuilding of much of the fabric in the 19th century was accrued out according to a 'restore as was' policy, meaning that many medieval features were reproduced. Further, it will be argued that some of the architecture may have been misdated, with potentially significant implications for the study of northern English architecture of the early 15th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of so-called ‘complex societies’ is a central concern of social science, and a theme to which the discipline of archaeology has made perhaps the most significant contributions with regard to the origins and earlier development of social systems in past societies. Almost all of the features that are widely accepted as indicators of social complexity – urbanism, social hierarchy, organized religion and so on – have been characterized and placed in sequence principally through the lens of physical evidence. That other fundamental feature of complex societies – writing – provides the most accessible view of yet another key attribute: legal culture. It is well known that legal texts are among the earliest forms of writing to survive in many regions, but in general archaeology has yet to make inroads into the study of the emergence and development of legal and judicial culture in the past. This paper focuses specifically upon judicial practice and explores the range and nature of archaeological correlates for such activity at progressive stages of societal development, from kin-based societies to large-scale polities. The case-study material is derived from Anglo-Saxon England, where an exceptional body of textual material relating to legal culture and a substantial archaeological dimension – comprising court sites, places of ordeal and confinement and execution places – facilitates a finely grained reconstruction of the emergence and development of legal culture. A general model is proposed for testing in cross-cultural and cross-chronological contexts. Notions of increasingly agglomerated administrative functions as a reflection of developing complexity are also discussed with reference to an alternative view from Anglo-Saxon England. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Dissolution of the Monasteries is usually seen as the final event in the lifecycle of monastic sites, and consequently is often discussed in terms of the destruction wrought or the motivations of those who profited immediately from their demise. However, the majority of former monastic sites continued to be occupied, maintained and developed in new ways for decades after these events. This paper takes the case study of Monk Bretton Priory, a fairly unremarkable monastic institution, and attempts to demonstrate how an explicitly biographical and long-term examination of a site's post-Dissolution history can provide a more nuanced and balanced narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeology is, or course, explicitly concerned with time. The result of almost all archaeological interventions is a chronology, that is to say a list of things that have happened in a particular order. But although time here changes, its constituent episodes are static. With archaeologists increasingly looking to more recent past events, and even the present moment and the future, can we develop ways in which we replace this ordering of past episodes with a more fluid understanding of time-as-lived, of duration. With reference to research in public art, politics and archaeology in Bristol between 2006 and the 2011, this paper will discuss the potential for archaeological engagement with duration in the contemporary city. In particular, I aim here to bring together artistic and archaeological working practices to develop a new understanding of daily urban life with changing experiences of time at its heart. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, based on our collective project Mapping Faith and Place in Leicester, we offer some discussion of ways in which archaeologists can engage with ideas of the sacred, through an exploration of a contemporary landscape of belief in an urban context. Moving beyond traditional archaeological and architectural descriptions of buildings, the relationship between faith and place is investigated using the concept of translation as a way of engaging with changes and developments in the realization of belief. We argue that this new approach is a very helpful way of understanding the material outcomes of religious faith. The study has considerable implications for the ways in which religious beliefs are now approached by many archaeologists. It is argued that we need to engage more carefully with classificatory architectural paradigms and recognize the importance of religious faith in the construction of the everyday. The inadequacies of ‘classic’ archaeological approaches to religion via monuments are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Alderley Sandhills Project (ASP) was designed to archaeologically explore the transformative roles of industrialization and de-industrialization on the working communities of rural England. Collection of oral histories was an intrinsic element of fieldwork, with project participants including elderly former residents and neighbors of the excavated cottages. Their narratives provided a crucial source for understanding social meanings of the archaeological objects and places within this study site, particularly over the inter-war decades of the early twentieth century. Drawing from elements of this multi-year project, this paper will explore the dynamic maintenance of community life through the composition of social memories, and the materiality of social belonging, to illuminate the inner world of the Hagg Cottages of Alderley Edge, Cheshire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depicted in the mid to late nineteenth-century periodical press as wild, remote, and 'intensely national', Wales was perceived as a place of quiet mystery, geographically and socially distinct from the industrialisation of Victorian England. The borderland territory of the Wye Valley - what the Victorian journalist and historian, Barbara Hutton, called 'Wye-Land' - has been inhabited for over 12,000 years and preserves an ancient British identity in its rich archaeological landscapes. Developments in mid Victorian archaeology and anthropology precipitated a rise in the number of prehistoric excavations, which popularised knowledge of how ancient Britons lived and died. Drawing from articles in the late Victorian periodical press, and the activities of the Cardiff Naturalist's Society in the 1870s, which included the study of geology, botany and archaeology, this paper suggests that the observation of natural phenomena in the late nineteenth century was closely associated with the study of past human societies. I identify the changing interpretations of prehistoric sites - from early Victorian notions of barbarous druids, to more informed and sensitive appreciations of ancient British societies, whose sympathetic relation to the landscape fostered imaginative connections between late Victorians and their ancestors. This transition away from perceptions of being wholly distinct from prehistoric activity, shaped late Victorian pastoral journalism and encouraged a more integrated vision of the relationship between past and present human activity in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Neolithic flint mines of Britain have been identified as sites of intense flint extraction. They occur chronologically in two phases: the earlier Neolithic examples in Sussex and Wessex (including the sites of Cissbury, Harrow Hill, Blackpatch, Church Hill, Easton Down, Martin's Clump, Long Down and Stoke Down) and the later Neolithic flint mine at Grimes Graves in Norfolk (Barber et al. 1999). Interpretations of prehistoric flint mines have commonly focused on the functional aspects of flint extraction: the method of extraction and quantity of flint that resulted (e.g. Mercer 1981a, 1981b; Sieveking 1979; Sieveking et al. 1973). Only recently has it been argued that prehistoric flint mines were monumental spaces and hence should be considered as monuments in their own right (Russell 2000, 2001). This paper further challenges the functional interpretation of flint mines as simple abstraction sites by discussing hidden in situ chalk art found within them. This art has wider parallels in markings discovered at other Neolithic sites and the examination of these mine and non-mine chalk examples suggests that collectively they indicate an early Neolithic art tradition that has hitherto been ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper provides background context to the Anglo-Saxon concept of the ‘mead-hall’, the role of conspicuous consumption in early medieval society and the use of commensality to strengthen horizontal and vertical social bonds. Taking as its primary starting point the evidence of the Old English verse tradition, supported by linguistic and archaeological evidence and contemporary comparative material, the paper draws together contemporaneous and modern insights into the nature of feasting as a social medium. The roles of the ‘lord’ and ‘lady’ as community leaders are examined, with particular regard to their position at the epicentre of radiating social relationships. Finally, the inverse importance of the mead-hall as a declining social institution and a developing literary construct is addressed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Anglican clergymen in England contributed significantly to the development of archaeology and local history as, first, subjects for polite study, but secondly as academic disciplines at the heart of the university extension and extra-mural movements. Initially working as lone antiquarian scholars, clergymen formed networks amongst themselves and the gentry, dominated the emerging national and county societies, and moved into university work in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries with the establishment of formal courses for adults. With their broad Oxbridge education and ready-made audiences, clergymen disseminated 'safe' secular knowledge via the tutorial class. But this contribution had diminished by the mid-twentieth century, by which time the education of the clergy had become more narrowly focused upon vocation, and as new academic posts facilitated the establishment of mainstream university Departments of Archaeology and Local History. This paper explores the contribution of the Anglican clergy to the education of adults in the period c.1750-1960 and suggests reasons for its initial strength and eventual decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1977, Alan Carter published an appraisal of the early development of Norwich in which he not only reviewed previous assessments of the city's growth but also set out models for testing by a range of archaeological and historical methodologies. Thirty years later, considerable research in Norwich has deepened understanding of pre-Conquest occupation, identifying more closely the probable development pattern and enabling a re-assessment and expansion of Carter's ideas. This paper reviews that research, seeking to determine both the character of the urban landscape by 1066 and its likely economic and social diversity, while proposing future research areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper focuses on the exclusion of black peoples from the English countryside. It particularly considers how white imaginaries of the English rural have ignored historical geographies of the black presence. Firstly the paper reflects upon the heritage of Englishness as represented in and through the rural tradition. It then presents some cultural excavations of black history undertaken by academics, community scholars and local history groups and asks how the histories they reveal challenge ideas of rural histories of England. The paper then considers how historical geographies of anti-racism may complement these new takes on rural heritage and provide a counter narrative to ’traditional’ English rurality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Between the early 18th century and the mid-19th century the north-west of England was turned from a relatively impoverished backwater to one of the major industrialisation zones in the world. This is thus a key region for understanding the archaeology of the early stages of industrialisation. The area around Manchester was at the heart of this process, which was driven in this region by the mechanisation of the textile industry. The archaeological remains of this industrial transition are not only very extensive but also comparatively early when considered against the classic period of the Industrial Revolution; the decades either side of 1800. This paper discusses this early evidence and the results of a wide-ranging regional survey looking at the archaeology of industrialisation within the textile industry and the role of local tenant farmers in promoting industry in and around Manchester during the 18th century. It highlights a number of key sources of evidence for this period and suggests some future directions for archaeological research into the early industrialisation of this important region. The second part will be published in Industrial Archaeology Review XXX.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a medieval instrument, a quadrans novus, which turned up during archaeological works in England. The invention of the instrument by Profacius in 1288 is discussed in terms of two other medieval instruments, the quadrans vetus and the common astrolabe. The characteristics of the present instrument are compared with those of the seven other known medieval quadrants. It is shown that the new quadrant was made in England for explicit use with the Sun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Percival, Vickers & Co. Ltd glass works was amongst the largest glass manufactories in Manchester, and formed one of a regionally significant group of 19th-century glass works in the Ancoats district of the city. All of these works have since been demolished, and the paucity of surviving physical and documentary evidence is in stark contrast to the former importance of the city's glass-making industry. The Percival, Vickers site was recently subjected to a detailed archaeological investigation ahead of redevelopment, providing a unique opportunity to study the buried remains of a 19th-century glass works. In particular, variation in the design of the furnaces provided evidence for the technological development of the later 19th century, which has not otherwise been documented. Additionally, some 110kg of glass fragments recovered from the site furnished important evidence for the composition of 19th-century glass, although the results are beyond the scope of the present paper, which focuses on the documented history, structural, and technological elements of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WHILE THE archaeological evidence for ritual activity in Later Prehistoric and Romano-British settlements is reasonably plentiful, there has been little discussion of such evidence from Anglo-Saxon settlements. This paper presents a preliminary survey of 'special' deposits, primarily of humans and animals, within Anglo-Saxon settlements and considers what the composition, context and placement of such — presumably votive — deposits tells us about the nature of Anglo-Saxon ritual. This evidence is compared to that from Iron-age and Roman Britain, as well as Continental NW. Europe. In particular, the relationship of special deposits to buildings, boundaries and entrances is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — This paper aims to provide an overview of the development of a computer system designed to aid historians in the reading of the stylus tablets from the Roman fort of Vindolanda. It proposes outlining the different stages in developing the system, and giving the preliminary results. Design/methodology/approach — The paper provides a literature review regarding Vindolanda, stylus tablets, and the process of reading an ancient document. Knowledge elicitation techniques are used to model explicitly expert processes used to read an ancient document. A corpus of character forms and lexicostatistics is gathered. An advanced cognitive imaging system utilising artificial intelligence techniques is implemented to produce plausible interpretations of the document. Findings — This paper describes the developmental stages undertaken to construct a system that can read in images of an ancient document and produce plausible interpretations of the document, to aid the historians in the lengthy process of reading an ancient text. In carrying out the development, an explicit representation of how experts approach and reason about damaged and deteriorated texts was formulated, and a large corpus of letter forms and linguistic data were captured. Preliminary results from the resulting computer system are presented which demonstrate the usefulness of the technique, although more work is needed to develop this into a stand-alone computer system. Research limitations/implications — The study is focused on the Roman stylus tablets from Vindolanda, near Hadrian's Wall, although the technique could be extrapolated to cover other types of ancient documents from any period. Practical implications — It is demonstrated that using techniques from artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology can result in further explicit understanding of humanities expert processes, which allow computational systems to be constructed. The resulting computational system is a tool for the humanities expert, which carries out a task in a similar manner, allowing for faster reasoning time and quicker hypotheses development. Originality/value — The paper presents the first known system to intake an image of an ancient text and output a plausible interpretation of the text in a reasonable time frame, assisting the papyrologist in resolving ambiguities in the damaged and abraded text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is dedicated to John Evans, environmental archaeologist extraordinaire, who died 14 June 2005, while this paper was in press. He continually reminded us that environmental data should address questions of people and landscape and be relevant to the understanding of Prehistory by our archaeological colleagues. The Beaker period in north-west Europe is abound with objects, burials, and monuments, but evidence of settlement and domestic life is often absent or less easily found, and England is no exception. Despite the thousands of barrows with rich artefacts assemblages (eg, Amesbury Archer) and the numerous pits with non-domestic assemblages of placed items, evidence for houses and settlement are sparse despite the indication of increased agriculture and sedentism. This paper explores this problem on the chalklands of southern England that are rich in Beaker finds, and which are generally recognised as one of the best studied and well understood landscapes in Europe. From this study it is suggested that Beaker domestic sites are present, but are often in low lying positions on the chalk downs and have subsequently been buried by variable depths of hillwash, making them invisible to normal archaeological survey and reconnaissance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other forms of heritage, landscape provides a vital repository of cultural meaning in relation to identity, belonging and sense of place. Despite this, the process of heritage management tends to obscure these links between landscapes and communities, and is thus neglectful of the experiences, perspectives and recollections that both individuals and groups bring to their engagement with heritage. This paper draws on the Hareshaw Linn community project to illustrate the diverse ways in which communities construct relationships with landscape. This case study serves as a reminder that the heritage management process cannot usefully be reduced to the technical and scientific practice it is often assumed to be, as it is often both emotional and conflict ridden. In light of this, it is essential to question why landscape is underplayed in legislation and public policy, and this necessarily entails the exploration of issues such as ownership, power, knowledge and ‘public’ heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2001 Ironbridge Archaeology (the archaeology unit of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust) inaugurated the Coalbrookdale Historical Archaeology Research and Training (CHART) programme 10 examine elements of the archaeology of Coalbrookdale that had previously been overlooked. This has now developed info an international programme of field excavation, landscape research, community outreach and university teaching, and is developing different approaches lo the archaeology of industrialisation. This paper presents an interim report on work so far, and outlines directions which the project is beginning to take as it matures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]