Buried in the Borderlands: An Artefact Typology and Chronology for the Netherlands in the Early Medieval Period on the Basis of Funerary Archaeology

By (author) Tim van Tongeren

Book cover: Buried in the Borderlands: An Artefact Typology and Chronology for the Netherlands in the Early Medieval Period on the Basis of Funerary Archaeology

Extent: 562 pages

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Subjects: Medieval Studies

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(January 2024)

ISBN: 9781803275734

8.07 x 11.42 inches

Price: $140.00

In stock

This book is the result of a large-scale yet detailed study of early medieval grave furnishings from the Netherlands, aiming at the creation of a comprehensive artefact typology and updated relative chronology for this under-explored period in the Low Countries.


Buried in the Borderlands is the result of a large-scale yet detailed study of early medieval grave furnishings from the Netherlands, aiming at the creation of a comprehensive artefact typology and updated relative chronology for this under-explored period in the Low Countries. During the early medieval period, the present-day Netherlands occupied a unique position as a border zone between the Frisians, Saxons and Merovingian Franks. For this large-scale research, grave goods were analysed from approximately 2500 inhumations from 21 cemeteries distributed across the country and incorporating the material culture of the aforementioned peoples. The resulting database was studied using the statistical research method Correspondence Analysis. A date was generated for individual artefact types and grave contexts. Creating the finds database confirmed that the varied Dutch material culture of the early medieval period cannot be analysed by only using a German or French typology. To simplify and locally embed future research as well as to allow for international comparison, a holistic typology has been developed which includes artefact types with roots in Germany, France and the surrounding countries as well as locally produced objects. All artefact types are provided with a revised date based on Dutch find contexts.

Introduction

Historiography

The Netherlands in the early medieval period

Methodology

Introduction to the cemeteries

A revised date for inhumations from the Netherlands

Typology

Buckles and belt fittings

Pottery

Glassware

Spearheads

Seaxes

Shield bosses

Axes

Swords

Arrow heads

Brooches

Pins

Earrings

Pendants and amulets

Bracelets

Finger rings

Combs

Tweezers

Rings and chatelaines

Keys

Tools and utensils

Metal vessels

Wooden vessels

Beads

Furnished burial in the Netherlands

Conclusions

Bibliography

Appendix

Inhumation chronology

  • By (author) Tim van Tongeren

‘Insgesamt liegt der wesentliche Gewinn dieses Bandes darin – das betont auch van Tongeren wiederholt (z. B. S. 83) –, für die Niederlande eine Typochronologie für den gesamten Fundstoff in einer Hand beisammenzuhaben und nicht mehr verschiedene Chronologiesysteme in verschiedenen Sprachen konsultieren zu müssen.‘ [translated] ‘Overall, the principal merit of this volume lies—as van Tongeren himself repeatedly emphasizes (e.g. p. 83)—in having, for the Netherlands, a typochronology for the entire body of finds assembled in a single work, rather than having to consult different chronological systems in different languages.’ – Thomas Meier (2024): GERMANIA Volume 102, 1st-2nd Issue