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Death and memory in early medieval Britain
How were the dead remembered in early medieval Britain? This innovative study demonstrates
how perceptions of the past and the dead, and hence social identities, were constructed through
mortuary practices memoration in the period c. AD 400–1100. Drawing on archae-
ological evidence from across Britain, including the latest archaeological discoveries, Howard
Williams presents a new interpretation of the significance of portable artefacts, the body,
structures, monuments and landscapes in early medieval mortuary practices. He argues that
materials and spaces were used in ritual performances that served as ‘technologies of remem-
brance’, practices that created shared ‘social’ memories intended to link past, present and
future. Through the deployment of material culture, early medieval societies were therefore
selectively remembering and forgetting their ancestors and their history. Throwing new light
on an important aspect of medieval society, this book is essential reading for all archaeologists
and historians with an interest in the early medieval period.
is Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Exeter. He has published
widely on death and memory in past societies and has co-directed archaeological fieldwork at
early medieval burial sites in Britain and Sweden.
CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Cambridge Studies in Archaeology aims to showcase the very best in contemporary archaeo-
logical scholarship. Reflecting the wide diversity and vigour of archaeology as an intellectual
discipline, the series covers all regions of the world and embraces all major theoretical and
methodological approaches. Designed to be empirically grounded and theoretically aware,
and including both single-authored and collaborative volumes, the series is arranged around
four highlighted strands:
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Prehistory
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Classical Archaeology
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Medieval Archaeology
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Histo