Archaeological Evidence for social differentiation in the Irish medieval town

Caitríona Gleeson

IRCHSS Doctoral Research Scholar

The premise of this doctorate is to re-evaluate a quantity of archaeological evidence retrieved from medieval towns within Ireland utilising artefact typology and distribution as a method of analysis, and therefore expand upon existing knowledge of social differentiation during that period.

The overall aim of the research is to utilise information retrieved from a detailed analysis of a range of artefacts commonly recovered from urban medieval sites to glean a more thorough understanding of the nature of settlement during that period, particularly with regard to issues of social differentiation. The objective is to thoroughly maximise the potential of the artefact data, an objective which is often limited in its realisation by the economic and temporal constraints that apply to commercial archaeological practice.

Artefact typology and condition at recovery can provide an indication of the social status of the site occupants. This has been previously noted by the author with regard to leather artefacts. It can be assumed that different categories and distributions of artefacts recovered across medieval sites are representative of class distinctions between the occupants of various areas. A re-appraisal of the artefact evidence with this agenda in mind will possibly yield further information on social strata of the medieval town and identify poorer/wealthier areas as reflected in the typology, distribution, wear and use pattern of the finds.

The present writer hopes that the proposed doctoral research will serve to further our understanding of life during the medieval period in Ireland.

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