Post-medieval archaeology
The field is also referred to as historical archaeology, a term originating in North America, and common in countries impacted by European colonialism.
The emergence of post-medieval archaeology began in the second half of the 20th century by exploring primarily European cultures such as Germany, France, The Mediterranean, and Scandinavia.
This was done after World War II, where archaeology was primarily focused on richer countries in Europe such as Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Poland.
The traditional date for the beginning of the post-medieval period in Britain has been 1485 when, following the Battle of Bosworth, the Tudor dynasty took the throne.
As with all attempts to neatly periodise the archaeological record, efforts to impose an exact date on the transition are doomed to be questioned by current and new findings.
Archaeologists and historians are hoping to expand the study of post-medieval archaeology to help better learn about the way of life after the medieval period.
Post-medieval sites include Nonsuch Palace in Surrey, the Rose Theatre in London and Fort Amherst in Chatham.
Considering prior to World War II, the use of archaeology wasn’t presented to examine the history and artefacts of Europe.
This emergence of the term post-medieval archaeology was crucial in revealing parts of Europe which hadn’t gained full recognition and by further expanding the story of these European countries.
During the beginnings of the study of post-medieval archaeology, there has been an issue regarding how to define the subject, and even had become a term which had been isolated in certain European settings.
[4] This is due to how the study of post-medieval archaeology can be viewed as an umbrella term in how it covers various periods of history.
[4] Throughout the study of post-medieval archaeology, it is argued that it can be practised without written sources, that it primarily functions on the physical grand artefacts.
[8] With this establishment, there was a gradual increase in their influence, however in the beginning they experienced financial difficulties in relation to printing research papers and articles.
There have been additional discussions in the present day about the reputation and the way that the society strives to engage with this study of archaeology.
Additionally, the rise in contemporary archaeology allowed for archaeologists and people studying to be able to examine their own way of living in the present moment.
In addition, there was an environmental focus for post-medieval archaeology which has influenced the ways of studying the land management during this period.
With this information, it expands the knowledge of post-medieval archaeology and drifts it away from being mainly focused on Europe and more expansive in the wider world.
[23] Whilst there is no accurate dating, it is believed that these importations to England began in the 13th century and expanded through the post-medieval period.
