Rethinking Ethnicity and ›Otherness‹ in Early Anglo-Saxon England
James M. Harland
This article considers a recent critical problematisation of the discussion âºOthernessâ¹ in Merovingian archaeology, and extends this to early mortuary archaeology post-Roman/early Anglo-Saxon England. The first examines literary goals Gildasâ De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, especially its representation military activity, reject popular arguments that conceptual framework described emergence an authentic, âºpost-colonialâ¹ British ethnic consciousness was grounded conscious rejection Romanness separation from âºGermanicâ¹, barbarian other. then cemetery Wasperton, Warwickshire, rejects previous interpretations site, which argue inhabitants expressed burial ideological demarcation Germanic âºOtherâ¹. Drawing upon distinctions made by Gildas between legitimate illegitimate authority clear use symbols ideology present at suggests such sites instead offer evidence for material expression new which, though deviant normative expectations civic Romanness, primarily drawn England make appeals inclusion deceased as key members their communities.
Medieval Worlds|Humanities Commons CORE (Modern Language Association / Columbia University)