Le mobilier funéraire de type franc et mérovingien dans le Kent et sa péripherie

This book is based on the thesis in medieval archeology of Jean Soulat, supported in 2015 at the University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne under the direction of Joëlle Burnouf and Anne Nissen. It presents the study of grave-goods of Frankish and Merovingian type, dating from the 5th-7th centuries, and located in Kent, a region of south-east England, and its periphery. Distributed in 59 cemeteries, 971 Frankish and Merovingian type artefacts were catalogued. 81% of these objects were found in Kent, from major sites such as the cemetery of Buckland in Dover, Bifrons, Mill Hill or Finglesham. Originally from 18th century excavations but also from recent discoveries, these grave-goods include various types of dress accessories (brooches, earrings, pins, etc.), belt fittings, weaponry and even containers of different materials (ceramics, glassware or copper alloy). Following a detailed historiography of the subject, the purpose of this publication is to understand how and why these archeological artifacts, specific to assemblages found in Gaul across the 5th-7th centuries, occur in Anglo- Saxon funerary contexts. What causes can be established and what conclusions can be drawn? Yes, the presence of these so-called “exogenous” grave-goods is linked to cross-Channel contacts, but what is their nature? Is it a question of trade, political and/or diplomatic links, migration, or the movement of people? Through an examination of the presence of this funeral furniture and the evidence for the circulation of these objects, the focus is to show that this maritime space did not constitute a natural barrier preventing the interaction of populations and exchange, but instead allowed for the creation of a privileged zone of commerce where different cultures intermingled during the Early Middle Ages.

SOMMAIRE 

REMERCIEMENTS 

PREFACE 

AVANT-PROPOS 

ABSTRACT 

CHAPITRE I – PRESENTATION

I. CHOIX DES TERMES EMPLOYES

II. AIRE CHRONO-CULTURELLE

III. PROBLEMATIQUES ABORDEES

CHAPITRE II – CONTEXTE HISTORIQUE

I. LA PERIODE DES GRANDES MIGRATIONS (IIIE-VE SIECLES)

II. FONDATION ET DEVELOPPEMENT GEOPOLITIQUE DES ROYAUMES DU SUD-EST DE L’ANGLETERRE

CHAPITRE III – ETAT DE LA QUESTION

I. APERÇU DE L’ARCHEOLOGIE FUNERAIRE ANGLO-SAXONNE

II. DIVERSITE DE LA CULTURE MATERIELLE ANGLO-SAXONNE

III. HISTORIOGRAPHIE DES TRAVAUX MENES

CHAPITRE IV – ETUDE DU MOBILIER FUNERAIRE DANS LE KENT ET SA PERIPHERIE

I. PRESENTATION DES NECROPOLES ANGLO-SAXONNES ETUDIEES

II. PRESENTATION DU CORPUS

III. MOBILIER FUNERAIRE DE TYPE FRANC

IV. MOBILIER FUNERAIRE DE TYPE MEROVINGIEN

CHAPITRE V – ANALYSE ET INTERPRETATION DU MOBILIER ETUDIE

I. ANALYSE TYPOCHRONOLOGIQUE DU MOBILIER

II. REPARTITION DU MOBILIER FUNERAIRE DE TYPE FRANC ET MEROVINGIEN PAR COMTE ETUDIE

III. LE MOBILIER FUNERAIRE DANS SON CONTEXTE

IV. SIGNIFICATION DU MOBILIER DE TYPE MEROVINGIEN 

V. LES CAUSES DE LA PRESENCE DES OBJETS DE TYPE MEROVINGIEN

VI. LES INFLUENCES MEROVINGIENNES ET LA QUESTION DE LA FABRICATION DES ARTEFACTS

CHAPITRE VI – ANALYSE ET INTERPRETATION CROISEE DU MOBILIER FUNERAIRE TRANS-MANCHE  

I. DU MOBILIER DE TYPE ANGLO-SAXON ET MEROVINGIEN DANS L’ESPACE TRANS-MANCHE

II. INTERPRETATIONS CROISEES DU MOBILIER

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

ANNEXES 

NOTICES DES SITES ETUDIES

INVENTAIRE DU MOBILIER

INVENTAIRE DU MOBILIER PAR PHASE CHRONOLOGIQUE

INVENTAIRE DES 321 TOMBES DE L’ETUDE DE CAS