Anglo-Saxon England c 570-720: the chronological basis

English Heritage summaries. 2005/2006

Background Aims

To advance the basis and framework for the archaeological study of the Anglo-Saxon period with particular reference to the period c. AD 570–720, hitherto recognized as a distinct phase in material cultural history, and known as the ‘Final Phase’ (of furnished, sometimes ‘pagan’) burial, or more recently the ‘Conversion Period’. This will have the further consequence of enabling researchers to correlate the archaeological evidence closely with major documented historical developments, including the emergence of the early English kingdoms, an apparent sharpening social hierarchy, and the Conversion to Christianity. At the same time the techniques and analytical capacity of archaeology generally will be enhanced, through the development of high-precision radiocarbon dating, and the testing of its application in combination with other quantitative techniques, including correspondence analysis of grave assemblages and the Bayesian evaluation of the models and results.

Anticipated Results

• A tested typological scheme for Early Anglo-Saxon artefacts, both of greater proven robustness and more comprehensive than any hitherto available, including several significant new typological classifications. In the case of weaponry in particular this will demonstrate a closer relationship with known developments on the Continent than had formerly been recognized.
• The replacement of the earlier chronological sequence that could only, reliably, distinguish ‘Migration Period’ from ‘Final Phase’ — terms that are often misunderstood and misused — with a well-defined and more scientific sequence of major phases, A, B, C, and subphases B1, B2 etc. This will be combined with clearly quantified statistical evidence for the absolute dating of the phases, as well as on geographical and potentially social variation between subphases.
• The refinement of the International Standard radiocarbon calibration curve (INTCAL) for the period AD 390–810, with consequent scope for the much wider application of radiocarbon-dating and archaeology to the elucidation of key historical periods, in particular the Roman/Anglo-Saxon transition of the 5th and 6th centuries AD.
• A clear demonstration of the value of applying an integrated suite of techniques of archaeological analysis, some of them long familiar, others new, but all revised and renovated in light of the power of computing facilities and programmes. This will be presented in such a way as to demonstrate the care and protocols required for the proper application of any of these, either individually or in combination.
• The publication of the results in printed and digital format in such a way as to encourage and support further modelling of the data used as relevant new data become available and new ideas may be applied.

This age was published on 22/05/2006