The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project Logo The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project

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Mercian Archaeological Services Community Archaeology in the East Midlands

Research Aims

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project is a long-term research project aimed at not only investigating each individual site within the Sherwood Forest area, but at tying the various strands together into a larger whole.

 Our mission is to conduct archaeological research within Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, that provides genuine benefit to local communities; helping them to engage with, explore and understand their heritage.


In line with archaeological best practice the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project is based around a number of research aims, and also ties in with the priorities set out in regional and national research agendas.


Some of the main research goals include:




As well as the general research aims outlined above, each individual site specific project has a strong research-based approach to archaeology:


Research at sites such as King John’s Palace have focused on understanding the boundaries of the palatial complex, and understanding better the use of social space in buildings and across the landscape, the manipulation of vistas and the integration of gardens in the wider landscape in the medieval period.


Our work also ties in with the priorities set out in regional and national research agendas, such as:

 

Updated Research Agenda and Strategy for the Historic Environment of the East Midlands

(Knight, Vyner and Allen 2012)


Examples covered by individual projects include:


Research Objective 3F: Identify monument complexes and prioritise for curatorial action.

Research objective 6F: Identify cultural boundaries in the Early Medieval period.

Rsearch Objective 7G: Estates, architecture, and power: investigate the relationship between castles and great houses and their estates.

Research Objective 7F: Investigate the development, structure and landholdings of manorial estate centres.

Research Objective 8I: Develop further the study of ceramic assemblages.


6.2 Ritual and Belief:

6.2.6. How can we enhance our understanding of the development of pre-Viking churches, cathederals and monasteries?”


6.4 Rural Settlement Patterns:

6.4.3. Can spatial and temporal variations in the morphology, functions and status of settlements be defined more precisely?


6.6 Early Medieval (c. AD 210 – 1066):

6.6.1.5 Demography and the identification of political and social groups: How can we refine our understanding of the chronology and process of Scandinavian immigration during ninth and tenth centuries?”

6.6.4.1 Rural settlement patterns: What impact may Germanic and Scandinavian immigration have had upon rural settlement patterns, and how may place-name evidence contribute to studies of settlement evolution?”


6.7.4.5 What local resources were used for building and maintenance and what was the environmental context and economic impact of these buildings?

6.7.6.1. How and where was post-conquest pottery manufactured and distributed, and what communication systems were employed?


Also earlier research agendas:


Cooper, N.J. 2006. The Archaeology of the East Midlands, An Archaeological Resource Assessment and Research Agenda, Leicester Archaeology Monograph 13. University of Leicester Archaeological Services:


The above publication presents an Archaeological Resource Assessment and Research Agenda for the East Midlands region, comprising the modern counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. It is the product of the first two stages of The East Midlands Archaeological Research Framework Project, sponsored jointly by English Heritage and the local authorities of the region. It aims to provide an effective structure for decision-making regarding future archaeological research and it is part of a wider English Heritage initiative to develop interlocking regional frameworks across the country.


The Medieval period (850-1500):

The period of 850-1500 was one of great change, which saw the East Midlands transformed from a conglomerate of localised chiefdoms or small kingdoms in the middle Saxon period, to become part of a much larger and more powerful medieval kingdom of England, which at its height, during the period of the Angevin empire, was one of the largest and most powerful forces in Europe.


The Manor:

The manor was the basic unit of medieval lordly landholding: the lord could be the king himself, a bishop or abbot in the case of manors granted to ecclesiastical establishments, or a lay lord who might hold just one manor, or scores of them across the country.

We need strategies for developing a better understanding of the early development of the manor and manorial estate. We must establish how we can best carry out landscape studies to establish the estates of known early manorial sites in order that significant features can be recognised in future.

 Understanding of the function and layout of many manorial complexes needs to be improved so that we can identify priorities for preservation/mitigation


The manorial landscape:

Trial excavation is needed at a sample number of manorial sites to ascertain the function of features whose function as manorial appurtenances has been suggested by earthwork survey.


Religion:

Human Remains. Human remains represent the only direct evidence for many aspects of medieval life. Analysis of human remains should be a high priority when they are discovered.






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The Future of Sherwood’s Past

 


Project page links:

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 Project Home page

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About the Project

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Awards

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 Media

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Research Aims

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 Working with Specialists

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Social Media - Follow us

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The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey

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Long term Research at 
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest

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The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool

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“Scirwuda- Mapping the Greenwood”: Place-names,
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project

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Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site

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Searching for the 
The Battle of Hatfield

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Edwinstowe Church Survey

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 Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel

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St Mary’s Norton- Cuckney Church Survey

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 Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest

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The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project

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Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project

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The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest

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Sherwood Heath Survey

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 Clipstone Village Dig

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Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel

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Ransom Wood Survey

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Thoresby Estate Survey

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 Robin Hood’s Village Dig

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The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.

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Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey

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World War II in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

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World War I in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

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About Medieval Sherwood Forest

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Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest

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 Outlaws & Villains

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 Historical Research

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 Stories from the Forest

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Book Reviews

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 Bibliography

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 Funding the Project

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 Project Partners

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 Project Sponsors

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 Robin Hood Challenges

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Outreach Bus Tours

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 Links page

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Talks for Groups Archaeological Experiences Field Schools & Training Events Calendar Sherwood Forest Members Area

 


Project page links:

-------------------------------

 Project Home page

-------------------------------

About the Project

-------------------------------

Awards

--------------------------------

 Media

--------------------------------

Research Aims

--------------------------------

 Working with Specialists

-------------------------------

Social Media - Follow us

--------------------------------

The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey

-------------------------------

Long term Research at 
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest

-------------------------------

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool

--------------------------------

“Scirwuda- Mapping the Greenwood”: Place-names,
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project

-------------------------------

Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site

-------------------------------

Searching for the 
The Battle of Hatfield

-------------------------------

Edwinstowe Church Survey

-------------------------------

 Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel

-------------------------------

St Mary’s Norton- Cuckney Church Survey

-------------------------------

 Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest

-------------------------------

The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project

-------------------------------

Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project

-------------------------------

The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest

-------------------------------

Sherwood Heath Survey

--------------------------------

 Clipstone Village Dig

-------------------------------

Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel

-------------------------------

Ransom Wood Survey

-------------------------------

Thoresby Estate Survey

-------------------------------

 Robin Hood’s Village Dig

-------------------------------

The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.

--------------------------------

Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey

--------------------------------

World War II in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

-------------------------------

World War I in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

--------------------------------

About Medieval Sherwood Forest

-------------------------------

Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest

--------------------------------

 Outlaws & Villains

-------------------------------

 Historical Research

-------------------------------

 Stories from the Forest

-------------------------------

Book Reviews

-------------------------------

 Bibliography

-------------------------------

 Funding the Project

-------------------------------

 Project Partners

-------------------------------

 Project Sponsors

-------------------------------

 Robin Hood Challenges

--------------------------------

Heritage Tourism Outreach

-------------------------------

 Links page

-------------------------------

























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