Dynamics of the Creation of Anglo-Saxon Societies in Central England C. AD 300-650

Abstract

This thesis examines the dynamics of the creation of Anglo-Saxon societies in the central transept of Britain from AD 300 to 650, focusing on two themes: treatment of the body and grave good provision in burial practice. The first theme, treatment of the body, includes burial attributes such as grave orientation, position of the body, cremation versus inhumation, and the structure of the grave. The second theme considered is the provision of grave goods, which entails examining the types of grave goods deposited and the frequency of furnished burials. The region examined includes the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire. This large region has been divided into three sub-regions in an effort to analyze and draw conclusions about both local and regional trends in burial practice. The data set for this study was derived from fourteen Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon sites, which includes a total of 1,773 burials. The sites chosen from each sub-region have been excavated to a high standard using modern archaeological theory and methodology, have sample sizes of fifty or more, and provide data that has enabled the author to pursue questions relevant to the aforementioned themes. The evidence from all three sub-regions indicates that the emergence of Anglo-Saxon societies in the south-central region of Britain was the result of a complex process that involved migration, acculturation, and integration. The Anglo-Saxon societies that were created from AD 300 to 650 preserved both Romano-British and Germanic characteristics, producing a new and unique society.