A range of data was harvested from the PAS, including the early medieval records for use in Section 3 and a range of control data. All the early medieval data was downloaded initially (3 October 2005) as this required cleaning and enhancement for in-depth analysis. This involved checking for accuracy, standardisation of terms, and enhancement of the dataset, and the deletion of all records dating pre-AD 700. All coinage was also deleted, as the EMC comprised a far more comprehensive record at that point in time. Second, location and period information for the entire PAS database was harvested (18 July 2006) for quantitative and geographical analysis in Section 2.4. This contained 137,090 records dating from early prehistory to modern times, providing an ideal source of material with which to assess the nature of recovery. From this, period-specific datasets were also produced, from Iron Age to late medieval. These are discussed in Section 2.5. By utilising this mass of data, the cleaned early medieval records can be explored against various background patterns. Analysing the entire PAS dataset allows for patterns relating to modern recovery and reporting to become clearer, with potential constraints on data collection readily apparent. By following this with analysis of period-specific control datasets, variation in settlement and metal use over time can be analysed by examining changes in the distribution of artefacts. Differences seen through time are more likely to reflect actual change than modern recovery. For instance, from the Iron Age to Early Medieval in the Fenland around the Wash, the pattern of finds indicates little occupation in the Iron Age, followed by much more in the Roman period and continued occupation into the Early Medieval period. This situation can be interpreted within the remit of Roman fenland management, enabling greater exploitation of these environments, a situation that continued into the post-Roman period. As a result, analysis of a variety of control data, including comparison with the cleaned and enhanced early medieval dataset, will help to define the effect of modern patterns of recovery on the palimpsest of historic landscapes. A better understanding of the nature of portable antiquities will result, and more secure interpretations of period-specific data can be made (see Section 3).
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URL: http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue25/2/2.2.1.html
Last updated: Tues Apr 21 2009