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Books > Humanities > Archaeology > Archaeology by period / region > European archaeology

Decoration and Display in Rome's Imperial Thermae - Messages of Power and their Popular Reception at the Baths of... Decoration and Display in Rome's Imperial Thermae - Messages of Power and their Popular Reception at the Baths of Caracalla (Hardcover)
Maryl B Gensheimer
R2,678 Discovery Miles 26 780 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Across the Roman Empire, ubiquitous archaeological, art historical, and literary evidence attests to the significance of bathing for Romans' routines and relationships. Public baths were popularly viewed as necessities of daily life and important social venues. Given the importance of bathing to the Roman style of living, by endowing eight magnificent baths (the so-called imperial thermae) in the city of Rome between 25 BCE - 315 CE, imperial patrons greatly enhanced their popular and political stature. Decoration and Display in Rome's Imperial Thermae presents a detailed analysis of the extensive decoration of the best preserved of these bathing complexes, the Baths of Caracalla (inaugurated 216 CE). Maryl B. Gensheimer takes an interdisciplinary approach to existing archaeological data, textual and visual sources, and anthropological theories in order to generate a new understanding of the visual experience of the Baths of Caracalla and show how the decoration played a critical role in advancing imperial agendas. This reassessment of one of the most ambitious and sophisticated examples of large-scale architectural patronage in Classical antiquity examines the specific mechanisms through which an imperial patron could use architectural decoration to emphasize his own unique sociopolitical position relative to the thousands of people who enjoyed his benefaction. The case studies addressed herein-ranging from architectural to freestanding sculpture and mosaic-demonstrate that sponsoring monumental baths was hardly an act of altruism. Rather, even while they provided recreation for elite and sub-altern Romans alike, such buildings were concerned primarily with dynastic legitimacy and imperial largess. Decorative programs articulated these themes by consistently drawing analogies between the subjects of the decoration and the emperor who had paid for it. The unified decorative program-and the messages of imperial power therein-adroitly honored the emperor and consolidated his reputation.

Campus Martius - The Field of Mars in the Life of Ancient Rome (Paperback): Paul W. Jacobs, II, Diane Atnally Conlin Campus Martius - The Field of Mars in the Life of Ancient Rome (Paperback)
Paul W. Jacobs, II, Diane Atnally Conlin
R1,111 Discovery Miles 11 110 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

A mosquito-infested and swampy plain lying north of the city walls, Rome's Campus Martius, or Field of Mars, was used for much of the period of the Republic as a military training ground and as a site for celebratory rituals and occasional political assemblies. Initially punctuated with temples vowed by victorious generals, during the imperial era it became filled with extraordinary baths, theaters, porticoes, aqueducts, and other structures - many of which were architectural firsts for the capitol. This book explores the myriad factors that contributed to the transformation of the Campus Martius from an occasionally visited space to a crowded center of daily activity. It presents a case study of the repurposing of urban landscape in the Roman world and explores how existing topographical features that fit well with the Republic's needs ultimately attracted architecture that forever transformed those features but still resonated with the area's original military and ceremonial traditions.

Campus Martius - The Field of Mars in the Life of Ancient Rome (Hardcover): Paul W. Jacobs, II, Diane Atnally Conlin Campus Martius - The Field of Mars in the Life of Ancient Rome (Hardcover)
Paul W. Jacobs, II, Diane Atnally Conlin
R2,557 Discovery Miles 25 570 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

A mosquito-infested and swampy plain lying north of the city walls, Rome's Campus Martius, or Field of Mars, was used for much of the period of the Republic as a military training ground and as a site for celebratory rituals and occasional political assemblies. Initially punctuated with temples vowed by victorious generals, during the imperial era it became filled with extraordinary baths, theaters, porticoes, aqueducts, and other structures - many of which were architectural firsts for the capitol. This book explores the myriad factors that contributed to the transformation of the Campus Martius from an occasionally visited space to a crowded center of daily activity. It presents a case study of the repurposing of urban landscape in the Roman world and explores how existing topographical features that fit well with the Republic's needs ultimately attracted architecture that forever transformed those features but still resonated with the area's original military and ceremonial traditions.

The Agora Bone Well (Paperback): Maria A. Liston, Susan I. Rotroff, Lynn M. Snyder The Agora Bone Well (Paperback)
Maria A. Liston, Susan I. Rotroff, Lynn M. Snyder
R2,017 Discovery Miles 20 170 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Even though Dorothy Thompson excavated the Agora Bone Well in 1938, the well and its remarkable finds have never been fully studied until now. Located outside the northwest corner of the Athenian Agora and dating to the second quarter of the 2nd century B.C., the well contained the remains of roughly 460 newborn infants, as well as a few older individuals. Also found in the well were the bones of over 150 dogs and an assortment of other animals, plus various artifacts, including an intriguing herm (treated here by Andrew Stewart) and an ivory chape. In addition to a thorough examination of the contents of the well, the authors provide a thoughtful analysis of the neighborhood in which the well was located and carefully compare the deposit with similar accumulations found elsewhere in the Mediterranean. The product of close cooperation between archaeological, palaeoanthropological, and faunal scholars, this interdisciplinary work will be of interest to a large audience across a variety of fields.

Greek Votive Offerings - An Essay in the History of Greek Religion (Paperback): William Henry Denham Rouse Greek Votive Offerings - An Essay in the History of Greek Religion (Paperback)
William Henry Denham Rouse
R1,109 Discovery Miles 11 090 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Originally published in 1902, this book provides an extensive survey of the tradition of votive offerings in ancient Greece. Rouse details the various motives behind offerings, including propitiation, tithes, and domestic purposes, drawing on the evidence of inscriptions and ancient eyewitnesses, and also examines ancient votive formulae. Thirteen indices containing an exhaustive list of epigraphical references to votive offerings at various shrines are also included. This well-written and richly-illustrated book will be of value to anyone with an interest in ancient Greek religion and the history of votive offerings.

Reading University Studies - Aryballoi and Figurines from Rhitsona in Boeotia (Paperback): P. N. Ure Reading University Studies - Aryballoi and Figurines from Rhitsona in Boeotia (Paperback)
P. N. Ure
R885 Discovery Miles 8 850 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Originally published in 1934, this book analyses the archaeological findings from a number of graves at Rhitsona, excavated between 1909 and 1922. The finds include a great amount of archaic pottery, archaic and classical figurines, glass, beads and metal objects. Ure breaks down the discussion by artefact type, and supplies a great number of images of the grave goods and the locations in which they were found.

A Classical Tour through Italy and Sicily - Tending to Illustrate Some Districts Which Have Not Been Described by Mr Eustace,... A Classical Tour through Italy and Sicily - Tending to Illustrate Some Districts Which Have Not Been Described by Mr Eustace, in his Classical Tour (Paperback)
Richard Colt Hoare
R1,323 Discovery Miles 13 230 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ A Classical Tour Through Italy And Sicily: Tending To Illustrate Some Districts, Which Have Not Been Described By Mr. Eustace, In His Classical Tour: In Two Volumes, Volume 1; A Classical Tour Through Italy And Sicily: Tending To Illustrate Some Districts, Which Have Not Been Described By Mr. Eustace, In His Classical Tour: In Two Volumes; Richard Colt Hoare 2 Richard Colt Hoare Mawman, 1819

Globalisation and the Roman World - World History, Connectivity and Material Culture (Hardcover): Martin Pitts, Miguel John... Globalisation and the Roman World - World History, Connectivity and Material Culture (Hardcover)
Martin Pitts, Miguel John Versluys
R2,518 Discovery Miles 25 180 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book explores a new perspective for understanding the Roman world, using connectivity as a major point of departure. Globalisation is apparent in increased flows of objects, people and ideas and in the creation of translocal consciousness in everyday life. Based on these criteria, there is a case for globalisation in the ancient Roman world. Essential for anyone interested in Romanisation, this volume provides the first sustained critical exploration of globalisation theories in Roman archaeology and history. It is written by an international group of scholars who address a broad range of subjects, including Roman imperialism, economics, consumption, urbanism, migration, visual culture and heritage. The contributors explore the implications of understanding material culture in an interconnected Roman world, highlighting several novel directions for future research.

Excavations at Thermi in Lesbos (Paperback): Winifred Lamb Excavations at Thermi in Lesbos (Paperback)
Winifred Lamb
R967 Discovery Miles 9 670 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Originally published in 1936, this book contains a record of excavations at Thermi on the Greek island of Lesbos, led by renowned British archaeologist Winifred Lamb (1894 1963) over a period of several years in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The text is well supplied with drawings and plates of the various buildings and artefacts uncovered during the excavation, the majority of which are from the Bronze Age. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Lamb's work, ancient history or Bronze Age Greece."

Aegyptiaca - A Catalogue of Egyptian Objects in the Aegean Area (Paperback): J.D.S. Pendlebury Aegyptiaca - A Catalogue of Egyptian Objects in the Aegean Area (Paperback)
J.D.S. Pendlebury; Foreword by H.R. Hall
R828 Discovery Miles 8 280 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

First published in 1930, this book collects all of the ancient Egyptian objects dating from before the Twenty Seventh Dynasty that were known to have been found at Greek archaeological sites prior to original publication. The book groups the items by find site, and photographs of many of the objects are included at the end of the text. The result is an interesting look at the material presence of ancient Egypt in the Aegean in the formative years of Greek civilization, without drawing any firm conclusions from the evidence provided.

Art and Society in Cyprus from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age (Paperback): Joanna S. Smith Art and Society in Cyprus from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age (Paperback)
Joanna S. Smith
R1,187 Discovery Miles 11 870 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Dramatic social and political change marks the period from the end of the Late Bronze Age into the Iron Age (ca. 1300 700 BCE) across the Mediterranean. Inland palatial centers of bureaucratic power weakened or collapsed ca. 1200 BCE while entrepreneurial exchange by sea survived and even expanded, becoming the Mediterranean-wide network of Phoenician trade. At the heart of that system was Kition, one of the largest harbor cities of ancient Cyprus. Earlier research has suggested that Phoenician rule was established at Kition after the abandonment of part of its Bronze Age settlement. A reexamination of Kition s architecture, stratigraphy, inscriptions, sculpture, and ceramics demonstrates that it was not abandoned. This study emphasizes the placement and scale of images and how they reveal the development of economic and social control at Kition from its establishment in the thirteenth century BCE until the development of a centralized form of government by the Phoenicians, backed by the Assyrian king, in 707 BCE."

Ancient Cambridgeshire - Or, an Attempt to Trace Roman and Other Ancient Roads that Passed through the County of Cambridge... Ancient Cambridgeshire - Or, an Attempt to Trace Roman and Other Ancient Roads that Passed through the County of Cambridge (Paperback)
Charles Cardale Babington
R636 Discovery Miles 6 360 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This work, first published in 1853, grew from a paper describing the crossing of two Roman roads at Cambridge, and the small Roman fort at Grantchester. However, other Roman sites were added to the investigation, and the book came to encompass all the Roman and other ancient roads of Cambridgeshire, as well as the locations where Roman coins and other remains had been found. The author, Charles Cardale Babington (1808 95), is best remembered as the pupil and assistant of John Stevens Henslow and as his successor in the chair of botany at Cambridge. However, Babington was also keenly interested in archaeology, and this fascinating work of local history is the first substantial account of Roman Cambridgeshire, describing not only the courses of the various roads but also finds such as the Roman villa at Comberton, the Roman cemetery at Trumpington, and large numbers of individual coins and other artefacts."

Senses of the Empire - Multisensory Approaches to Roman Culture (Hardcover): Eleanor Betts Senses of the Empire - Multisensory Approaches to Roman Culture (Hardcover)
Eleanor Betts
R4,439 Discovery Miles 44 390 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Roman empire afforded a kaleidoscope of sensations. Through a series of multisensory case studies centred on people, places, buildings and artefacts, and on specific aspects of human behaviour, this volume develops ground-breaking methods and approaches for sensory studies in Roman archaeology and ancient history. Authors explore questions such as: what it felt like, and symbolised, to be showered with saffron at the amphitheatre; why the shape of a dancer's body made him immediately recognisable as a social outcast; how the dramatic gestures, loud noises and unforgettable smells of a funeral would have different meanings for members of the family and for bystanders; and why feeling the weight of a signet ring on his finger contributed to a man's sense of identity. A multisensory approach is taken throughout, with each chapter exploring at least two of the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. The contributors' individual approaches vary, reflecting the possibilities and the wide application of sensory studies to the ancient world. Underlying all chapters is a conviction that taking a multisensory approach enriches our understanding of the Roman empire, but also an awareness of the methodological problems encountered when reconstructing past experiences.

The Philistines and Aegean Migration at the End of the Late Bronze Age (Paperback): Assaf Yasur-Landau The Philistines and Aegean Migration at the End of the Late Bronze Age (Paperback)
Assaf Yasur-Landau
R1,167 Discovery Miles 11 670 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

In this study, Assaf Yasur-Landau examines the early history of the biblical Philistines who were among the 'Sea Peoples' who migrated from the Aegean area to the Levant during the early twelfth century BC. Creating an archaeological narrative of the migration of the Philistines, he combines an innovative theoretical framework on the archaeology of migration with new data from excavations in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel and thereby reconstructs the social history of the Aegean migration to the southern Levant. The author follows the story of the migrants from the conditions that caused the Philistines to leave their Aegean homes, to their movement eastward along the sea and land routes, to their formation of a migrant society in Philistia and their interaction with local populations in the Levant. Based on the most up-to-date evidence, this book offers a new and fresh understanding of the arrival of the Philistines in the Levant.

Pseira VIII - The Archaeological Survey of Pseira Island, Part 1 (Hardcover, New): Costis Davaras, Philip P. Betancourt,... Pseira VIII - The Archaeological Survey of Pseira Island, Part 1 (Hardcover, New)
Costis Davaras, Philip P. Betancourt, Richard Hope Simpson
R2,532 Discovery Miles 25 320 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Richard B. Seager excavated the Minoan town and cemetery at Pseira in 1906-1907, but the work was not fully published. The Temple University excavations (1985-1994) under the direction of Philip P. Betancourt and Costis Davaras conducted an intensive surface survey of the island. The results of the survey on the small island off the northeast coast of Crete are published in two volumes. Pseira VIII presents the results from the corollary studies that accompany the surface survey. The surface survey is presented in Part IX.

Pseira VII - The Pseira Cemetery II. Excavation of the Tombs (Hardcover): Philip P. Betancourt, Costis Davaras Pseira VII - The Pseira Cemetery II. Excavation of the Tombs (Hardcover)
Philip P. Betancourt, Costis Davaras
R1,483 R1,347 Discovery Miles 13 470 Save R136 (9%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Richard B. Seager excavated the Minoan cemetery at Pseira in 1907, but the work was never published. The Temple University excavations (1985-1994) under the direction of Philip P. Betancourt and Costis Davaras conducted an intensive surface survey of the cemetery area, cleaned and drew plans of all visible tombs, and excavated tombs that had not been previously excavated. The results of the cemetery excavations on the small island off the northeast coast of Crete are published in two volumes. Pseira VII presents the results from the excavation and cleaning of the 19 tombs that still exist at the Pseira cemetery. The cemetery is remarkable for the diversity of its tomb types. Burials were in cist graves built of vertical slabs (a class with Cycladic parallels), in small tombs constructed of fieldstones, in house tombs, and in jars. Burials were communal, as is usual in Minoan cemeteries. Artifacts included clay vases, stone vessels, obsidian, bronze tools, jewelry, and other objects.

In Search of the Phoenicians (Paperback): Josephine Quinn In Search of the Phoenicians (Paperback)
Josephine Quinn
R516 Discovery Miles 5 160 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Who were the ancient Phoenicians-and did they actually exist? The Phoenicians traveled the Mediterranean long before the Greeks and Romans, trading, establishing settlements, and refining the art of navigation. But who these legendary sailors really were has long remained a mystery. In Search of the Phoenicians makes the startling claim that the "Phoenicians" never actually existed as such. Taking readers from the ancient world to today, this book argues that the notion of these sailors as a coherent people with a shared identity, history, and culture is a product of modern nationalist ideologies-and a notion very much at odds with the ancient sources.

The Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum - Archaeology, Reception, and Digital Reconstruction (Paperback): Mantha Zarmakoupi The Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum - Archaeology, Reception, and Digital Reconstruction (Paperback)
Mantha Zarmakoupi
R886 R741 Discovery Miles 7 410 Save R145 (16%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The Villa of the Papyri is a unique archaeological site and has been very influential in the field of classical studies. The papyri (the only intact library to survive from Greco-Roman antiquity) and bronze sculptures found in the villa have contributed to our knowledge of the ancient world and the villa has become for us the "ideal model" of Roman luxury villa culture.This volume brings together papers delivered by experts in various fields addressing the cultural significance of this ancient site in its contemporary Roman context as well as its cultural reception from its discovery over two hundred and fifty years ago to the most recent excavations in the late twentieth century. They also explore the ways in which digital archaeology can assist our efforts to understand and investigate ancient sites. Topics treated include the Villa's architecture, decoration, and content (i.e., wall-paintings, sculptures, and papyri); their reception since the 18th century; and the current state of knowledge based on the recent partial excavations in the Villa, presented here in English for the first time. Furthermore, the use of digital models of the Villa that incorporate the data from the new excavations and a discussion on the ways in which such models may be used for educational and research purposes are also presented.

The Ancient Jews from Alexander to Muhammad (Paperback): Seth Schwartz The Ancient Jews from Alexander to Muhammad (Paperback)
Seth Schwartz
R708 Discovery Miles 7 080 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This is an accessible and up-to-date account of the Jews during the millennium following Alexander the Great's conquest of the East. Unusually, it acknowledges the problems involved in constructing a narrative from fragmentary yet complex evidence and is, implicitly, an exploration of how this might be accomplished. Moreover, unlike most other introductions to the subject, it concentrates primarily on the people rather than issues of theology and adopts a resolutely unsentimental approach to the subject. Professor Schwartz particularly demonstrates the importance of studying Jewish history, texts and artefacts to the broader community of ancient historians because of what they can contribute to wider themes such as Roman imperialism. The book serves as an excellent introduction for students and scholars of Jewish history and of ancient history.

The Archaeology of Lydia, from Gyges to Alexander (Paperback): Christopher H. Roosevelt The Archaeology of Lydia, from Gyges to Alexander (Paperback)
Christopher H. Roosevelt
R1,220 Discovery Miles 12 200 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

In The Archaeology of Lydia: From Gyges to Alexander, Christopher Roosevelt provides the first overview of the regional archaeology of Lydia in western Turkey, including much previously unpublished evidence as well as a fresh synthesis of the archaeology of Sardis, the ancient capital of the region. Combining data from regional surveys, stylistic analyses of artifacts in local museums, ancient texts, and environmental studies, he presents a new perspective on the archaeology of this area. To assess the importance of Lydian landscapes under Lydian and Achaemenid rule, roughly between the seventh and fourth centuries BCE, Roosevelt situates the archaeological evidence within frameworks established by evidence for ancient geography, environmental conditions, and resource availability and exploitation. Drawing on detailed and copiously illustrated evidence presented in a regionally organized catalogue, the book considers the significance of evidence of settlement and burial at Sardis and beyond for understanding Lydian society as a whole and the continuity of cultural traditions across the transition from Lydian to Achaemenid hegemony.

Schliemann's Excavations - An Archaeological and Historical Study (Paperback): Carl Schuchhardt Schliemann's Excavations - An Archaeological and Historical Study (Paperback)
Carl Schuchhardt; Translated by Eugenie Sellers
R1,103 Discovery Miles 11 030 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This overview of the famous and pioneering excavations of Heinrich Schliemann was first published in German in 1889, and in this extended English translation in 1891. The author, Carl Schuchhardt (1859 1943), had wide experience of excavations in both Asia Minor and Europe, and the translator, Eugenie Sellers (1860 1943), was the first female student of the British School at Athens. The book begins with a life of Schliemann, who had died in 1890, and goes on to describe his extraordinary discoveries at Troy and Mycenae, and his work at Tiryns, Ithaca and Orchomenos. It also contains two reports of later work at the mound of Hissarlik, the site of Troy, by Schliemann himself and his assistant Wilhelm Dorpfeld, which had not been included in the German edition. The book is illustrated with many line drawings, and includes the famous photograph of Sophia Schliemann wearing 'the gold of Troy'."

Roman Bath - A New History and Archaeology of Aquae Sulis (Paperback): Peter Davenport Roman Bath - A New History and Archaeology of Aquae Sulis (Paperback)
Peter Davenport
R487 Discovery Miles 4 870 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

For almost three hundred years, excavations have been carried out in Roman Bath. At first these were rare and sporadic and archaeological finds were made by chance. Even fewer were reported. But from the 1860s, deliberate investigations were made and increasingly professional methods employed. The Roman Baths were laid open to view, but little was published. From the 1950s, interest accelerated, professionals and amateurs collaborated, and there was never a decade in which some new discovery was not made. The first popular but authoritative presentation of this work was made in 1971 and updated several times. However, from the 1990s to the present there has been some sort of archaeological investigation almost every year. This has thrown much new and unexpected light on the town of Aquae Sulis and its citizens. In this book, Peter Davenport, having been involved in most of the archaeological work in Bath since 1980, attempts to tell the story of Roman Bath: the latest interim report on the 'Three Hundred Year Dig'.

Warrior - A Life of War in Anglo-Saxon Britain (Paperback): Edoardo Albert, Paul Gething Warrior - A Life of War in Anglo-Saxon Britain (Paperback)
Edoardo Albert, Paul Gething 1
R234 Discovery Miles 2 340 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Warrior tells the story of forgotten man, a man whose bones were found in an Anglo-Saxon graveyard at Bamburgh castle in Northumberland. It is the story of a violent time when Britain was defining itself in waves of religious fervour, scattered tribal expansion and terrible bloodshed; it is the story of the fighting class, men apart, defined in life and death by their experiences on the killing field; it is an intricate and riveting narrative of survival and adaptation set in the stunning political and physical landscapes of medieval England. Warrior is a classic of British history, a landmark of popular archaeology, and a must-read for anyone interested in the story of where we've come from.

The Greek House - Its History and Development from the Neolithic Period to the Hellenistic Age (Paperback): Bertha Carr Rider The Greek House - Its History and Development from the Neolithic Period to the Hellenistic Age (Paperback)
Bertha Carr Rider
R942 Discovery Miles 9 420 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

First published in 1916, this book brings together the archaeological evidence available at the time about the history and development of Greek domestic dwellings from the Neolithic Period to the Hellenistic age. The text includes information on Homeric, Mycenaean and Minoan palaces, and a number of ground plans. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the ancient construction of domestic space and in Classical archaeology.

The Sword in Early Medieval Northern Europe - Experience, Identity, Representation (Hardcover): Sue Brunning The Sword in Early Medieval Northern Europe - Experience, Identity, Representation (Hardcover)
Sue Brunning
R1,927 Discovery Miles 19 270 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

A wide-ranging study of the significance of swords throughout the whole Anglo-Saxon period, offering valuable insights into the meaning of and attitude towards swords. Swords were special in Anglo-Saxon England. Their names, deeds and pedigrees were enshrined in writing. Many were curated for generations, revealed by their worn and mended condition. Few ended their lives as casual discards, placed instead in graves, hoards and watercourses as part of ritualised acts. Contemporary sources leave no doubt that complex social meanings surrounded these weapons, transcending their use on the battlefield; but they have yet to transcend the traditional view that their primary social function was as status symbols. Even now, half a century after the first major study of Anglo-Saxon swords, their wider significance within their world has yet to be fully articulated. This book sets out to meet the challenge. Eschewing modern value judgements, it focuses instead on contemporary perceptions - exploring how those who made, used and experienced swords really felt about them. It takes a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, bringing together insights from art, archaeology and literature. Comparison with Scandinavia adds further nuance, revealing what was (and was not) distinctive of Anglo-Saxon views of these weapons. Far from elite baubles, swords are revealed to have been dynamic "living" artefacts with their own identities, histories and places in social networks - ideas fuelled by their adaptability, durability and unique rolein bloodshed. Sue Brunning is Curator of European Early Medieval Collections at The British Museum.

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