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SUMMARY:Warfare in Transition: Late Roman Britain to Early Anglo-Saxon Eng
 land - Dr. James Storr (College of Management and Technology\, Cranfield U
 niversity)
DTSTART:20101123T173000Z
DTEND:20101123T190000Z
UID:TALK27095@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ilya Berkovich
DESCRIPTION:The transition from post-Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England 
 lasted over 400 years and was punctuated by many battles.  Yet our knowled
 ge of warfare in this period is scanty.  Historical sources are few and co
 ntested\; archaeology can tell us relatively little above the level of the
  individual.  Current approaches are described as either ‘reductionist
 ’ (ie\, that we can say very little) or ‘positivist’ (which has led 
 to much uncorroborated speculation).  \n\nThe introduction of geographical
  techniques offers to breach this impasse.  Topography\, toponymy and fiel
 dwalking can provide considerable insight into the possible course and seq
 uence of battles and campaigns in the transition from Romano-British to An
 glo-Saxon rule.  Campaigns and battles took place in real places for real 
 reasons: understanding the terrain as it was can contribute significantly 
 to our understanding of warfare in the period.  Extensive linear earthwork
 s appear to have been a feature of warfare in this era\, but have been lar
 gely overlooked by historians and archaeologists.  \n\nThe seminar will of
 fer some preliminary results\, primarily relating to the foundation and ex
 pansion of Wessex between 500 and 658AD.  Wessex appears to have been crea
 ted by invasion from the Thames Valley (and specifically by breaching the 
 line of the Chilterns)\, rather than from the Solent.  Such findings have 
 major implications for our understanding of the conduct of warfare\, the m
 echanism of transition from Romano-British to Anglo-Saxon rule\, and the o
 rganisation of society during the period.  Further work will consider the 
 rest of England in due course.  
LOCATION:Seminar Room N7\, Pembroke College
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