White, Ethan John Michael; (2020) Popular Religiosity and Watery Places in Early Medieval England: An Interdisciplinary Examination. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis adopts an interdisciplinary methodology to assess both archaeological and historical evidence for ‘popular religion’ at watery places in early medieval England, examining both wells and springs, and larger bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. As part of this investigation, catalogues of archaeological finds from these watery places have been compiled. This data has then been analysed to ascertain more information about the deposition of material culture into these spaces during the Early Middle Ages. It demonstrates that while wells were largely selected as spaces to place wooden objects, probably as termination deposits, rivers and lakes were instead used primarily for the deposition of weaponry. The chronological framework of these deposits is discussed, as are their regional distribution, and a range of possibilities for why they were made is put forward. Historical evidence, namely ecclesiastical literature such as the penitentials and homilies, but also poetic material such as Beowulf, is also examined to ascertain more about the ‘popular religious’ activities at watery places. Various ecclesiasts complain of the provision of offerings at wells, although at the same time wells were being brought within the remit of the cult of saints, reflecting competing Christian understandings of such spaces. Both textual and toponymic evidence suggests a belief in supernatural entities inhabiting certain rivers and pools, whereas ecclesiastic texts refer to rivers being used as spaces of baptism and as locations suitable for adjacent ecclesiastical settlement. Ultimately, it evidences the utility of interdisciplinary scholarship in providing a holistic understanding of the past society under examination and advances scholarly knowledge about the various different uses of watery places for ‘popular religious’ purposes in early medieval England.

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