Agricultural innovation and socio-economic change in early medieval Europe: evidence from Britain and France
Pam Crabtree
Abstract Historical and archaeological data suggest that the Middle Saxon period (c. 650–850 ce) in eastern England was an era of substantial social, political economic change. This paper argues it also a innovation animal husbandry practices. Zooarchaeological demonstrate shift from non-specialized system designed to meet local subsistence needs more specialized husbandry, focused on specific products – wool production, but at some sites pork production produce surplus agricultural commodities. A similar pattern can be observed early medieval France. Several possible explanations are examined, including its relation state formation, rise emporia (the first towns post-Roman West), spread monasticism possibility this represents bottom-up pioneered rural estate centres. The zooarchaeological both monastic centres secular played critical role period.
World Archaeology