ABSTRACT

The development of agriculture played an important role in the development of society during the early medieval period. This paper presents an insight into the changes in crop and animal husbandry for early medieval Yorkshire (fourth – late thirteenth century). A synthesis of archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological evidence from 163 sites revealed multiple changes in the presence of different cereal types and main domesticates. While a high presence of wheat and barley was observed across the period, an increased use of both oats and rye has been highlighted. Faunal evidence has emphasised the different sub-regional developments of cattle and sheep/goats within Yorkshire. These trends suggest that agricultural development went initially through a phase of abatement marked by the apparent taking up of subsistence-oriented crop and unspecialised animal husbandry practices. A phase of agricultural intensification was observed during the Anglo-Scandinavian and later phases as the arable was enlarged through the use of more specific cereals (like oats and rye). It is suggested that this was accompanied by an increasingly specialised animal economy focusing on their secondary products. Additionally, Anglian estate organisation might have been an important contributor towards the development of agricultural methods in areas like the Yorkshire Wolds.

摘要

农业的发展对中世纪早期社会的发展起到了重要作用。本文介绍了中世纪早期约克郡（第四至十三世纪末）农作物和畜牧业的变化。来自 163 个地点的考古植物学和动物考古学证据的综合揭示了不同谷物类型和主要驯化动物存在的多重变化。虽然在此期间观察到小麦和大麦的大量存在，但燕麦和黑麦的使用增加已被强调。动物区系证据强调了约克郡牛和绵羊/山羊的不同次区域发展。这些趋势表明，农业发展最初经历了一个减少阶段，其特点是明显采用以自给为导向的作物和非专业化的畜牧业实践。在盎格鲁-斯堪的纳维亚和后期阶段观察到农业集约化阶段，因为通过使用更特定的谷物（如燕麦和黑麦）扩大了耕地。有人认为，这伴随着日益专业化的动物经济，专注于其副产品。此外，盎格鲁庄园组织可能对约克郡森林等地区农业方法的发展做出了重要贡献。在盎格鲁-斯堪的纳维亚和后期阶段观察到农业集约化阶段，因为通过使用更特定的谷物（如燕麦和黑麦）扩大了耕地。有人认为，这伴随着日益专业化的动物经济，专注于其副产品。此外，盎格鲁庄园组织可能对约克郡森林等地区农业方法的发展做出了重要贡献。在盎格鲁-斯堪的纳维亚和后期阶段观察到农业集约化阶段，因为通过使用更特定的谷物（如燕麦和黑麦）扩大了耕地。有人认为，这伴随着日益专业化的动物经济，专注于其副产品。此外，盎格鲁庄园组织可能对约克郡森林等地区农业方法的发展做出了重要贡献。