University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education From Civilisation To Barbarism? Western Britain in the Early Middle Ages Tutor: Dr Kirsten Jarrett
DEB (c. AD 540) Ch. 20 [early – mid C5] ‘...lying hid [from raiding Irish & Picts] in mountains, caves, and woods, continually sallied out from thence to renew the war.’ Patrick (5 th century) 1. ‘...a small villa nearby where I was taken captive...’ Ch. 25 [mid – late C5] ‘...miserable remnant, being taken [by ‘rebel’ Saxon mercenary soldiers: foederati] in the mountains... committing the safeguard of their lives...to the mountains, precipices, thickly wooded forests, and to the rocks of the seas...’
Villas: ‘barbarian’ brutality & ‘de-Romanisation’?
Late 4 th century characteristics Control & enclosure ? Corn-driers: Climate deterioration or new products (brewing = client-ship)? Architectural change Late 4 th - 5 th + century change Industrialisation: insertion of hearths Blocking of doorways Deterioration of masonry structures Construction of timber buildings within shells & rough flooring Burial (Occasional) signs of inter-personal violence
Barnsley Park, Glos.
Frocester Court
Reoccupation of Iron Age Hillforts Initial (late 4 th century) activity: Metalworking or ritual Possible limited settlement outside IA ramparts C5 – 7: (Often ‘zoned’) settlement within ramparts Variety of building forms & materials
Poundbury, Dorset
Cadbury Congresbury
South Cadbury, Som.
Excavations
Glastonbury Tor
Dinas Emrys, Gwynedd
Chûn Castle, West Penwith
Hut Groups / Courtyard settlements Cefn Graenog, Clynnog Fawr Porthmeor, Zennor
Gwithian
High Peak, Devon
Tintagel Island
Plateau
Terrace Buildings