General Themes: Socio-economic development
Definition
Artefact and ecofact assemblages, gathered both in their own right and in relation to the patterning and interpretations derived from Themes II and III, will allow processes of functional differentiation and specialisation to be defined both between and, critically, within settlement types (A3, B3). Thus we would expect to see whether settlement types could be 'finger-printed' artefactually (hence decide whether early medieval 'productive sites' are a real phenomenon or simple product of modern data collection mechanisms - B1, or to investigate whether a 'Roman villa' defined on morphological and structural grounds was equally diagnostic in the types of material culture which circulated within it). In addition, we would hope to look at how various components within any group of structures interacted spatially and through time.
Methods
- Field-walking will allow spatial analysis of resulting finds scatters;
- Artefactual analysis can define trade and exchange mechanisms at local, regional and long-distance/inter-regional levels;
- Test pitting, sometimes followed by larger scale investigation, will add spatial resolution to the above and elucidate site function via access to more accurate contextual information;
- By treating graveyard monuments and standing building as, essentially, artefacts, we can throw light on changing spatial contexts for secular and religious action, ideological expression and gender relations.
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