On the Architecture of the Abbey Church of Dorchester

During 1984 and 1985 an area of over 1500 sq. m was excavated on Hartlepool Headland (NZ 528 336) by Cleveland County Archaeology Section. The results of this work will be presented in two parts, the Anglo-Saxon first, followed by the Medieval in a later volume of the Journal.

The excavations revealed two periods of Anglo-Saxon occupation, defined by a change from earthfast to free-standing structures. The earlier period, of earthfast construction, has been divided into four phases ranging in date from the mid seventh century to the first quarter of the eighth Century. Associated with the earlier period was a boundary complex of two phases of construction. This has been interpreted as a ‘vallum monasterii’. The backfill of the boundary was radiocarbon dated to c. ad 690 and contained metalworking moulds and crucibles. The latter included three decorated pieces which have added materially to the knowledge of early Northumbrian art and metalworking.

The later period of occupation saw the construction of free-standing, stone-footed structures. In some cases the footings had been inserted into earthfast structures of the earlier period. This site is interpreted as part of the Anglo-Saxon double monastery of ‘Heruteu’, comprising an area of workshops and living quarters. Occupation ceased in the last quarter of the eighth century.     

Correlating archaeological and palaeoenvironmental records using a Bayesian approach: a case study from Sutton Common,South Yorkshire,England

This paper presents a case study aimed at correlating archaeological ‘events’ (obtained from radiocarbon measurements and dendrochronology) from the site of Sutton Common with a radiocarbon-dated pollen sequence obtained from a palaeochannel deposit adjacent to the area of the main archaeological activity. It demonstrates the use of a Bayesian approach to quantifying whether the timing of palynological ‘events’ interpreted as reflecting anthropogenic impacts are likely to be associated with archaeological ‘events’. The results suggest that Bronze Age activity in the form of a mortuary enclosure and associated cremation burials are probably not contemporary with the palynological evidence for disturbance to the oak–hazel woodland in this period. Subsequent evidence for local woodland clearance and agriculture is estimated to precede the construction of the large Iron Age enclosure in 372 BC, with increases in ‘anthropogenic indicators’ following this ‘event’. The construction of the site does not appear to have had a pronounced impact on the local vegetation, with hazel the only woody taxon to show clear reductions. Despite the use of a substantial number of oak timbers in the enclosure palisade, percentages of oak remain remarkably stable. Later farming activity on the site probably post-dates the end of activity in the enclosures. The value of the methodology is discussed in relation to quantifiable and robust correlations of archaeological and palaeoenvironmental narratives of landscape and human activity.     

Re‐locating Moroccan Women’s identities in a transnational world: the ‘woman question’ in question

This article considers the situation of women in politics and the overall politicization of the ‘woman question’ in Morocco in its historical context in order to suggest why, despite enormous changes in women’s daily lives and roles in society, continued attempts to gain greater rights for Moroccan women and improve their status have been met with strong resistance by certain political groups. Working with interviews conducted with activists during fieldwork in Morocco, I focus on an analysis of two recent sets of events—debates around the Plan for Action to Integrate Women into Development and the Moroccan March 2000 for Women in Rabat and its counter‐march in Casablanca—to discuss how the various oppositional positions on the ‘woman question’ have developed and persisted in Morocco. I argue that unresolved and renewed national conflicts in Morocco, which in part are fueled by the success of transnational feminisms and fundamentalisms, perpetuate the manipulation of the ‘woman question’ for short‐term political gains in such a way that significant progress on this issue has been repeatedly thwarted. I address the tension in transnational feminism between ‘universalist’ and ‘cultural difference’ positions as they have been manifested in the Moroccan context and suggest that a way forward involves problematizing both poles of this dichotomy.