Leather and Leatherworking in Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York

This volume presents the surviving evidence for the manufacture and use of leather artefacts at York during the Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval periods. Based around the internationally important group of Anglo-Scandinavian leatherwork from 16-22 Coppergate, it also includes material recovered from other sites in the city. Over 5,000 items of leather dating from the later 9th century through to the 15th century are represented, some 550 of which are fully catalogued. T he recovery of large quantities of manufacturing debris at Coppergate suggests that leatherworking was undertaken there in both the Anglo-Scandinavian and the medieval periods. Shoe making was at its height in the 10th century; cobbling was also being undertaken at this time and continued throughout the medieval period. There is evidence for the refurbishment of knife sheaths in the Anglo-Scandinavian period, a phenomenon not previously recognised elsewhere. The leather items themselves are described in detail. These include shoes, knife sheaths, sword scabbards, straps, purses, elliptical panels, balls and an archer's wrist guard. Shoes represent the largest category of manufactured leather recovered.
A small number of shoes made from a single piece of leather were found in Anglo-Scandinavian deposits, but the vast majority of the shoes from both Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval contexts were of turnshoe construction. A significant corpus of knife and seax sheaths and sword scabbards was recovered. Future researchers will be able to use the York leather assemblage presented here to re-examine current issues and develop new hypotheses, continuing to move forward the study of the leather industry and to elucidate the complexities of post-Roman economy and society.