Brooches, Beads, Swords and Shields: Early Medieval Material Culture (ARC3121)

15 credits

In this module you will explore the world of artefacts used in the early Middle Ages (5th-11th centuries AD), such as dress accessories, weapons, tools and household items (e.g. ceramics, glass). Thereby addressing the following questions will form the main line of study: How can we study the material culture of the early Middle Ages? What social meanings can early medieval material culture convey? How was material culture used in the early Middle Ages to reproduce/negotiate/change social identities? How did items of early medieval material culture relate to social structures and to the agency of their producers and users? In what ways could these objects themselves have agency? What regional differences can we see within Europe? What role can scientific analysis methods play in the study of early medieval material culture?