Environment and Agriculture of Early Winchester

Martin Biddle has an extensive archaeological career, but is perhaps most recognized for his excavations in Winchester where he introduced into urban archaeology a multi-period and multi-disciplinary approach employing archaeology, topography and historical archives, treating all periods from the Iron Age to the post-medieval with equal weight. ; Jane Renfrew is a paleoethnobotanist noted for her studies on the use of plants in prehistory, the origin and development of agriculture, food and wine in antiquity, and the origin of the vine and wine in the Mediterranean. ; Patrick Ottaway is a consultant providing specialist advice to commercial and public clients on archaeological and heritage matters. He was Assistant City Archaeologist in Winchester and Head of Fieldwork at York Archaeological Trust. He is author or editor of volumes on excavations in Winchester 1972–86, and of the Urban Archaeological Assessment for Winchester.

'This is a comprehensive study of organic remains from important Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, and later medieval archaeological sites in Winchester. Most usefully the archaeobotanical data, which were collected in the 1960–80s, have been integrated with documentary and historical evidence thereby enabling a better understanding of the development of the early historic city.' – Keith Wilkinson, Professor of Geoarchaeology and Director of ARCA, University of Winchester

• Preface ; I: Introduction and Environment ; 1. Introduction – Martin Biddle, Jane M. Renfrew with contributions by Francis J. Green and Patrick Ottaway ; 2. The Natural Environment of the Winchester Region – Jane M. Renfrew and Patrick Ottaway ; II: The Written Evidence ; 3. Aelfric's Nomina Herbarum and the Plant Remains from Anglo-Saxon Winchester – Debby Banham ; 4. Agriculture and the Use of Plants in Medieval Winchester: the Documentary Evidence – Derek J. Keene ; 5. Gardens in Medieval and Later Winchester: the Castle, Wolvesey Palace and Eastgate House – Beatrice Clayre and Martin Biddle ; 6. Field Crops and their Cultivation in Hampshire, 1200-1350, in the Light of Documentary Evidence – Jan Z. Titow ; III: The Archaeological Evidence ; 7. Pollen Analysis of Archaeological Deposits in Winchester – Erwin Isenberg and Jane M. Renfrew ; 8. The Identification and Utilization of Wood in Early Winchester – Suzanne Keene ; 9. The Roman Plant Remains – Peter Murphy ; 10. The Plant Economy and Vegetation of Anglo-Saxon Winchester – Michael Monk ; 11. Plant Remains and Agriculture in Norman and Later Medieval Winchester – Francis J. Green ; 12. Roman and Post-Roman Moss from Lower Brook Street Moss – Dorian Williams and Jane M. Renfrew ; 13. Insect Fauna from Lower Brook Street – Peter J. Osborne ; 14. Conclusion – Patrick Ottaway ; Concordance of Samples ; Index 1: General Index ; Index 2: Insects and Plants