Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, or Both
: Exploring identity and migration in the fourth to seventh century AD through an interdisciplinary approach to three southern British cemeteries sites.

  • Katherine M Miller

Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Abstract

The transition from the end of Roman Britain and the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons to southern Britain is a pivotal moment in the narrative of British history. With material culture and mortuary practices as evidence, scholars have debated the chronology of these interactions and their impact on southern Britain’s landscape. Through utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to investigating populations within southern Britain, this PhD project attempts to unravel the complexities of migration and identity in the fourth to seventh century AD. Cemeteries, the human remains within them, and material culture alongside the analysis of isotopic measurements provides evidence to deconstruct shifts in cultural and social practices through time. The primary focus for this project was the isotopic analysis of three southern Anglo-Saxon cemeteries: Apple Down (Compton, Sussex), Droxford (Hampshire), and Pilgrim’s Way (Wrotham, Kent). The synthesis of archaeological material, osteological assessments, and isotopic measurements allow for a more complex and nuanced view of these sites' population demographics and chronologies. This research model challenges traditional migration theories and identity theory through mortuary practices and material culture to reveal the complex relationships between and within the populations of southern Britain across time. This project suggests that the strict dichotomy and separation of the Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon periods and peoples is false.
Date of Award22 Mar 2022
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • University of Bristol
SupervisorTimothy D J Knowles (Supervisor) & Katharine Robson Brown (Supervisor)

Cite this

'