Description
The research centres on towns that have received sufficient archaeological intervention so that meaningful patterns can be traced. The case studies are arranged into three regional areas: the South-East, South-West, and Midlands. Individually each town contains varying levels of archaeological data, but analysed together these illustrate more clearly patterns of evolution. Much of the data exists as accessible but largely unpublished reports, or isolated within regional discussions. Detailed analysis, review and comparisons generate significant scope for modelling 'urban' change in England from AD 300-600. 'Towns in the Dark' dispels the simplistic myth of outright urban decline and failure after Rome, and demonstrates that life in towns often did continue with variable degrees of continuity and discontinuity.
Reviews
'The author has brought his experience and skill as a field archaeologist and urban excavator to bear on an ambitious subject. He seeks to explore the evidence for occupation, function and role of urban places during the fourth to sixth centuries and attempts to understand how and why these roles and functions may have changed. The result is a generally impressive marshalling of evidence, some of which is obscurely published or unpublished. Speed deserves to be congratulated for bringing this information - the results of countless commercially-funded urban excavations - to the attention of a wider audience... The volume is handsomely produced and richly illustrated.' - James Gerrard (2015): Britannia
Book Information
ISBN 9781784910044
Author Gavin Speed
Format Paperback
Page Count 205
Imprint Archaeopress Archaeology
Publisher Archaeopress
Weight(grams) 785g
Dimensions(mm) 297mm * 210mm * 10mm