Medieval Britain and Ireland in 2017

This section of the journal comprises two core sets of reports linked to work in 2017: finds and analyses relating to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) and site-specific discoveries and reports in medieval Britain and Ireland (MB&I), with a selection of highlighted projects. For the PAS report, reviews on coin and non-coin finds and on specific research angles are presented. For MB&I, the Society is most grateful to all contributors (of field units, museums, universities, developers, specialist groups and individuals) who have provided reports on finds, excavations, field-surveys and building analyses for 2017. For MB&I, see below for the format and content of the Fieldwork Highlights section and for contact details of the compilers. Annual Specialist Groups Reports appear in the Society’s Newsletter.     

NOTE ON THE INCLUSION OF SITE CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION IN EQUATIONS TO ESTIMATE STRONG GROUND MOTIONS

Two main regression methods have been proposed for using site category information within ground motion prediction equations, these are: (a) joint estimation of the site category coefficients and the magnitude and distance coefficients; or (b) estimation of site category coefficients by using the residuals from the equation derived without considering soil conditions. Method (a) requires each record be assigned a site category whereas for method (b), because it relies on residuals, site information can be missing for some records. This short note finds that if the mean of the transformed distances within each site category is the same then the two methods give the same site coefficients. If, however, these means are significantly different then method (b) can yield incorrect site coefficients.     

'Christ's Kingdom in Scotland': Scottish Presbyterianism, Social Reform, and the Edwardian Crisis

This article examines the response of Scottish Presbyterianreformers to the socioeconomic and political dimensions of the‘Edwardian Crisis’. For such individuals the circumstancesof the early twentieth century, despite the undoubted difficultiesthey posed, offered the opportunity to bring about a modernversion of the ‘godly commonwealth’, with the principalmeans of realizing this being Christianized social reform. Thearticle focuses on how the ‘social problem’ wasanalysed; the challenge of socialism; the solutions offered;and the ultimate fate of the ‘social gospel’ ¹I am grateful to the British Academy for a Research and TravelExpenses Grant which enabled me to visit Scottish archives andlibraries; and to my colleagues David Nash and Paul O'Flinnand this journal's editors and anonymous referees for theirconstructive comments on earlier drafts. The quote is from JohnW. Gulland MP, Christ's Kingdom in Scotland or the Social Missionof the United Free Church (Edinburgh, 1906).     

SPATIAL VARIATIONS IN REGIONAL SURFACE ENERGY EXCHANGE PATTERNS FOR MONTREAL, QUEBEC

Satellite imagery from the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) was analysed for Montreal, Quebec. From this imagery, regional metropolitan maps of day/night surface temperatures are produced for an area of approximately 10⁴km². With the implementation of a surface energy budget model coupled with the satellite data, maps of non-radiative transfers (sensible and latent energy), along with surface properties (moisture availability and thermal inertia), are produced. Regional land surface cover maps are also constructed and then compared with energy exchange patterns. The visual spatial correlation indicates the dominant role that urbanization plays on modifying local climate. In addition, spatial patterns of thermal inertia and moisture availability can now be produced directly from satellite dated rather than being inferred from land-use maps or other planning data. With this development, a data base of urban surface properties can he compiled for climatic impact purposes/i>. Des images satellites provenant du Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) furent analysées pour Montréal, Québec. Àl'aidedeces images, des cartes métropolitaines régionales de températures de surface nuit/jour furent produites pour une superficie approximative de 10⁴ km². A partir d'un modèle de bilan énergitique de surface couplé aux données satellites, des cartes d'échanges d'énergie (énergie latente et sensible) furent produites, tenant compte des propriétés recontrées en surface (hum-idité disponsible et inertie thermique). Des cartes régionales de la couverture terrestre en surface furent également construites puis comparées avec celles des échanges d'énergie. Une corrélation spatiale visuelle indique le rôle dominant que joue l'urbanisation dans la modification des climats locaux. De plus, la configuration spatiale de l'inertie thermique et de I'humidité dkponible peut maintenant être produite directement a partir de données satellites. ll n'est plus nécessaire d'estimer la configuration à partir des cartes d'utilisation du sol ou en employant d'autres procédés semblables. Avec cette méthode, on peut assembler une banque de données des propriétés rencontrées en surface urbaine pour des fins d'analyses d'impacts climatiques.     

SOLIFLUCTION IN THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN ROCKIES

Turf-banked solifluction lobes are common landforms of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Observations made 1980–3 at 45 sites reveal a wide range in the rate of solifluction. The most rapid rates occur on moderately sloping, northeast-facing sites, in close proximity to the local treeline. However, statistical comparison indicates these variations are insignificant and that the mean rate of solifluction is similar throughout the area. Solifluction has an average rate of surface movement of 0.61 ± 0.21 cm/year and is responsible for annually transporting 8.76 ± 3.57 cm³/cm of sediment in the southern Canadian Rockies .
La topographie des Rocheuses canadiennes prend souvent la forme de lobes de solifluxion gazonner. Des observations faites entre 1980 et 1 983 dans 45 sites de ces lobes révèlent que le processus de solifluxion varie grandement d'un endroit à l'autre dans cette région. Les taux les plus rapides se retrouvent dans des sites modérément inclinés et orientés vers le nord-ouest, situés à proximité de la lisière des bois. Pourtant, des comparaisons statistiques indiquent que ces variations sont d'importance minime et que le taux moyen de solifluxion recte semblable à travers toute la région. La solifluxion se faut à un taux moyen de mouvement à la surface de 0,61 cm ± 0,21 cm par année et on peut lui imputer le fait de transporter annuellement de 8,76 cm³/ cm ± 3,57 cm³/cm de sediments dans la partie sud des Rocheuses canadiennes .