What's So Special? A Reinterpretation of Anglo-Saxon 'Special Deposits'

James Morris · Ben Jervis

38 citations0/0 files storedMedieval Archaeology

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Historical and Archaeological Studies Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies Medieval Architecture and Archaeology

Abstract

BUILDING ON HAMEROW'S previous study in Medieval Archaeology 50, the interpretation of Anglo-Saxon 'special deposits', primarily of animal bone and pottery, from England are discussed. By examining their composition and the variable nature of depositional practices, we question why these deposits are considered 'special'. Such deposits are often interpreted within a ritual or functional dichotomy and we propose that the adoption of a biographical approach to individual remains can help elucidate the many and varied human actions and means behind their creation.

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References

2005Reassembling the Social 1986The cultural biography of things: commoditization as process 1999Ritual: Perspectives and Dimensions 1997Ritual 1994The Archetypal Actions Of Ritual 2009Reinvigorating object biography: reproducing the drama of object lives 1999Ritual and Rationality: Some Problems of Interpretation in European Archaeology 2004Hoards, votives, offerings: the archaeology of the dedicated object

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