Anglo-Saxon social structure : the cemeteries of the Isle of Wight

In tracing the development of Early Anglo-Saxon archaeology in England, it is shown that scholars have always tended to resist theoretical and methodological innovation. This thesis is intended to demonstrate that archaeological data can be used to detect the formation and development of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in southern England. Recent research into the process of state formation in general, indicates that the major factors are the acquisition of resources, the distribution and density of population and the evolution of social structure. These are examined with reference to the archaeological data pertaining to five of the major concentrations of population in southern England in the early Anglo-Saxon period. Particular attention in given to the Anglo-Saxon cemeteries of the Isle of Wight for long neglected by scholars but essential to the integrated study of the problems in hand. These cemeteries are documented and examined in detail in order to bring them to an advanced state of study comparable with that of other areas. The historical data are not ignored. It is concluded that there is a close correlation between aggression, trade and the distribution of wealth to varying degrees, the growth of the kingdoms is shown to be dependent upon these three variables. The most advanced and successful of the kingdoms are those with the easiest access to resources by trade; major changes took place in each of them during the latter part of the sixth century A.D. Attention is finally drawn to a number of important gaps in the data and the ways in which they affect our understanding of early Anglo-Saxon England, and recommendations made for future research/fieldwork.