Wood Use in Medieval Novgorod
Mark A. Brisbane(Author)
UCL Press
Published on 15. March 2006
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-84472-076-7 (ISBN)
Description
Novgorod has probably the most comprehensive collection of excavated wooden objects and structures from any site in the world. The town and its material culture were completely dominated by wood. Equally important, the preservation of this material has been excellent due to benign anaerobic waterlogged conditions. This book describes various aspects of the use of wood in medieval Novgorod in twenty-five chapters written by the world's leading authorities on this material. It provides fascinating detail on the way wooden material was used in structures such as buildings, streets, yards, fences; industrial activity, for example spinning and weaving, footwear production; transport, such as skis, sleighs or boats; household objects, for example containers, furniture, combs, toys and games; musical instruments; accountancy and commerce (tally sticks, tribute seals); and ritual and decoration. Most of the objects discussed date from the 10th century AD to the 15th, but the book includes comparisons to ethnographic evidence from more recent periods. Importantly, many of the chapters are written by Russian authors, bringing their work to the English audience for the first time.
A bibliography of previously published material and extensive illustration make this volume a necessary addition to any serious archaeological research library shelf and the wealth of information provided about everyday life in this important medieval centre of commerce will be a great interest to medievalists and historians of Russia.
A bibliography of previously published material and extensive illustration make this volume a necessary addition to any serious archaeological research library shelf and the wealth of information provided about everyday life in this important medieval centre of commerce will be a great interest to medievalists and historians of Russia.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paper over boards
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 152 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84472-076-7 (9781844720767)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Mark Brisbane is Professor of Medieval Archaeology at Bournemouth University. He is director of a longstanding research project on the archaeology of Novgorod, Russia; other research interests include medieval ceramics and the effective display and interpretation of material culture in museums. Jon Hather is Senior Lecturer in Archaeobotany at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. He is Series Editor for the monograph series Wood in Archaeology, which reflects his particular interest in the archaeology of wood use and woodland landscapes in Northern Europe.
Content
Preface; Introduction to Novgorod; Woodworking tools; The use of wood in civil engineering; The buildings of Novgorod; Agricultural equipment; Hunting and fishing equipment; Wood use in spinning and weaving; Footwear production; Land transport; Water transport; Stave-built vessels; Turned vessels; Household objects; Carved utensils; Wooden combs; Mirror and wax tablet frames; Toys and models; Chess pieces and gaming boards; Musical instruments; Decorative carved wooden objects; Wood use in ritual contexts; Accounting, tags and credit tallies; Wood use in medieval Novgorod; Bibliography of Novgorod Wood; References; Index