Early medieval slave‐trading in the archaeological record: comparative methodologies
Janel M. Fontaine
Efforts to identify archaeological indicators of slave‐trading have highlighted four main criteria: shackles, fortified settlements, currency, and burials. However, little effort has been made examine these together for the early medieval period. By comparing finds, studies, methodologies from two major regions Britain Ireland Slavic east central Europe, it becomes clear that so‐called ‘indicators’ are inconclusive, textually attested can remain archaeologically invisible. To better understand in seventh eleventh centuries, historians archaeologists should instead focus on its context within general trade.
Early Medieval Europe