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Objects without a Past?

The use of Roman objects in early Anglo-Saxon graves

  • Chapter
Archaeologies of Remembrance

Abstract

Objects, like people, have social histories. In early Anglo-Saxon graves, there is evidence of the occasional re-use of Roman objects, which were probably discovered on nearby abandoned Roman settlements, while disturbing old graves or when uncovering hoards. To date, studies of this re-use have emphasised either its practical aspects or its magical significance. This paper develops on these interpretations, stressing the importance of old objects used for their practical and magical values in strategies of mortuary remembrance for early Anglo-Saxon communities. In particular it is argued that the very lack of a known history or biography may have contributed to the meaning these Roman objects held in early medieval societies.

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  1. University of Leicester, UK

    Hella Eckardt

  2. Cardiff University, UK

    Howard Williams

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  1. Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK

    Howard Williams

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Eckardt, H., Williams, H. (2003). Objects without a Past?. In: Williams, H. (eds) Archaeologies of Remembrance. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9222-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9222-2_7

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