English Building Entanglements between Medieval and Modern

Sarah J Breiter

English Building Entanglements between Medieval and Modern

Year: 2020

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Medieval to Modern Transitions and Historical Archaeology" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

A building’s materials extend beyond the stone, brick, timber, and metals that are visible in its fabric. During the medieval period in England, materials such as timber and stone were managed and accessed through engagement with feudal powers. A series of entanglements, between lords, peasants, and the Catholic Church, as well as between oak trees, pigs, and local geology, worked towards maintaining, conserving, and consuming these resources. These relationships were contingent and unequal; access was mediated through social and economic power. Towards the end of the medieval period, the political economy of England was shifting away from feudalism. At the same time, England experienced religious reformation, civil war, and new colonial relationships. This paper will explore how these broader social and economic changes impacted the exploitation of building materials in vernacular houses constructed between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.