The Dark Ages? The archaeology of early medieval Wales and England

Overview

The period between AD 400 and 800 in Britain has been traditionally dismissed as part of ‘the Dark Ages’. The term ‘Dark Age’ refers to a lack of historical sources, rather than any intellectual decline.  
 
Archaeology has helped to fill the gaps and demonstrated that, within a context of immense social and political upheaval this was a very creative period. How communities lived, buried their dead, engaged in ceremony, and organised their politics was subject to wide regional and subregional variation, with plenty of nuance beyond typical narratives of migration, warfare, and conquest.  
 
This module holistically examines developments in the settlement and burial record in a landscape context and explores major themes such as the fracturing of empire, development of early states, the nature of religious change, and the rise of towns. These themes will be explored utilising the archaeological record to illuminate the differing developmental trajectories of England and Wales between the Roman empire and the Viking era.

Programme

Activities and tasks will be embedded into each unit so students can practise the techniques they have learned and develop their skills. Students will be encouraged to share their own work and participate in discussions on Blackboard. Alongside the learning materials on Blackboard the tutor will be on hand via email to answer any queries and provide guidance throughout the course. They will also participate in the online discussions.   

• Unit 1 - From Roman Britannia to early medieval Britain 
• Unit 2 - Early medieval ‘deathscapes’ and Death and burial in Anglo-Saxon England 
• Unit 3 - Settlements and landscape 
• Unit 4 - Landscapes of power and The early church 
• Unit 5 - Consolidation and conclusion 

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the nature, extent, and limitations of the archaeological evidence for early medieval communities in Britain.
2. Identify and describe the various approaches used to reconstruct early medieval societies, and the problems interpreting the evidence.
3. Discuss the relationship of other disciplines to the period and their importance in assessing and interpreting the evidence.
4. Evaluate the range of current archaeological methods and techniques used for recovering and analysing evidence for early medieval Britain. 

Assessments

1. A map and accompanying description of 500 words on place names and local landscapes (20%)
2. Written assignment of 1500 words - Consider the problems faced by archaeologists in reconstructing early medieval society between the fifth and eighth centuries in England and Wales. (80%) 

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.