The archaeology of the medieval English monarchy.

The archaeology of the medieval English monarchy. JOHN STEANE. The archaeology of the medieval English monarchy. 226pages, 121 illustrations. 1999. London & New York New York, state, United StatesNew York,Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of (NY): Routledge;0-713-472464 hardback 40 [pounds sterling] & $49.95; 0-415-197880paperback 19.99 [pounds sterling] & $32.99. This book is masterly in concept and execution. It stems from agood idea, pursued with enthusiasm and vigour. Steane's studyderives from over half-a-century of observation and mature reflection.On archaeology the author makes his stance clear at the outset:`Archaeology as a technique ... has made major contributions ... to ourunderstanding of medieval England'. Archaeology is for him atechnique, not a discipline; there is no theoretical analysis of issuessuch as gender and space, and the revisions do not insert such matter.Within the space allowed him Steane presents the reader with copiousarchaeological and historical evidence. The preliminary pages are graced by a well-informed Foreword by HRH HRHabbr.Her (or His) Royal HighnessHRHHer (or His) Royal HighnessHRHabbr (= His (or Her) Royal Highness) → S.A.R. Richard of Gloucester -- his title resonating with that most famousmedieval Richard of Gloucester who, as Richard III, merits severalreferences in the Index. The book focuses on the period 1066-1540 and isstructured in seven chapters of unequal length: Symbols of power,Burials of the medieval royal family, Royal accommodation (the longestat over 50 pages), Palace and castle gardens (only five pages), Thepeaceful activities of court life, Formalized for��mal��ize?tr.v. for��mal��ized, for��mal��iz��ing, for��mal��iz��es1. To give a definite form or shape to.2. a. To make formal.b. violence: hunting, hawkingand jousting, The monarchy: religion and education. There is nooverarching conclusion to draw matter together; summaries are found indifferent sections. The author writes clearly, proceeding by evidence, supported byscholarly authority. It is especially welcome that he has taken many ofthe photographs and has produced almost all the line drawings himself.These efforts strengthen the work, provide the immediacy of theeyewitness account, furnish a uniformity of style -- and clearly savedthe publishers substantial amounts of money. The text is well paced andthe chosen objects, for example in the section on thrones,illuminatingly illustrate change through time. Detailed analysis, forexample of individual artefacts and bone assemblages, is excellent. Theexposition of the structure and materials of the Black Prince'shelm or, elsewhere, the layers of clothing and undergarments worn bymedieval royalty, exemplify the author's clear style. Thediscussion of the archaeological evidence in the debate on the fate ofthe Princes in the Tower shows the author at his best, picking his waysure-footedly through the mire mire(mer) [Fr.] one of the figures on the arm of an ophthalmometer whose images are reflected on the cornea; measurement of their variations determines the amount of corneal astigmatism. miren. of surviving reports, and archaeologicalevidence which includes mixed animal and human bones from an urn filledin 1678 with bones excavated in 1674, claimed as the remains of theunfortunate royal children. Such gatherings of expert opinion onproblematic archaeological evidence, on occasion from antiquarian an��ti��quar��i��an?n.One who studies, collects, or deals in antiquities.adj.1. Of or relating to antiquarians or to the study or collecting of antiquities.2. Dealing in or having to do with old or rare books. investigations of difficult data, to establish the sum of knowledgetoday are among the many strengths of this book. This is a revision and updating of Steane's book of 1993.However, through a lapse on Routledge's part, alterations are setin a different typeface and so can be followed through the book. Thisenables the reader to assess the process of revision at a glance, and tocompare the revised version Revised Versionn.A British and American revision of the King James Version of the Bible, completed in 1885.Revised VersionNoun with the author's intention in theoriginal foreword to reshape a revised edition towards a more generallyEuropean perspective. In subject matter the text is generally sound,although Steane does repeat the common misconception that Westminsteralone was referred to by contemporaries as a palace (p. 87). Other slipsinclude the Norman Conquest Norman Conquest,period in English history following the defeat (1066) of King Harold of England by William, duke of Normandy, who became William I of England. The conquest was formerly thought to have brought about broad changes in all phases of English life. dated to 1060 (p. 10) and a puzzling`Colvin, 1983' attribution (p. 207), which, with others, did notmake it to the references. Some figures lack scales. As Steane points out, the study of medieval palaces and theiroccupants has arrived on the stage late in the century of the commonman. This book adds significantly to the literature in providing asource book for the study of the material culture of the medievalEnglish monarchy. For this we are in his debt. In many respects thesurvival of comparatively full documentation in royal sources in theMiddle Ages as defined by Steane, together with the shattered remains ofpalaces and their former contents, provide an ultimate test for thehistorical archaeologist. John Steane resoundingly re��sound?v. re��sound��ed, re��sound��ing, re��soundsv.intr.1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children.2. passes this test,demonstrating an impressive grasp of historical and archaeologicalevidence and techniques of analysis. The best books on this complexperiod continue to be written by those with an understanding of both thestrengths and weaknesses of material and written evidence. Only once does ANTIQUITY feature in Steane's references(Taylor 1952). It is unlikely now that Steane's study area ofmedieval elite culture is going to make an appearance this century inthis journal beyond the review pages. Perhaps the re-emergence ofarchaeological study of medieval elites late in the 20th century heraldsa flowering of the topic in the next century. Time, and the pages ofANTIQUITY, will tell. TOM BEAUMONT JAMES King James King is the name of: James King (1589-1652), Scottish commander in the Battle of Wittstock James King, 17th century member of the Fruitbearing Society Captain James King (c. 1750 -1784), crewman on Cook's third voyage James G. Alfred's, WinchesterT.James@wkac.ac.uk Reference TAYLOR, A. 1952. The date of Caernarvon Castle, Antiquity 26:25-34.