Occupational patterns in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval East Midlands, England: Insights from activity-related skeletal changes

This paper examines five assemblages from the East Midlands, England, assessing activity-related skeletal changes with the aim of exploring differences in labor-linked social divisions between the Anglo-Saxon (5th-11th century) and medieval periods (11th-15th century). The Anglo-Saxon assemblages come from Empingham and Southwell, while all three medieval assemblages originate from Leicester (St Michael's cemetery, St Peter's cemetery, Austin Friars). The analysis of activity-related skeletal changes encompassed entheseal changes (EC) and cross-sectional geometric properties (CSG) of the upper limb long bones. The results supported a lack of sexual dimorphism, with the exception of St Peter's for CSG. This pattern suggests the absence of systematic sex-based division of labor in both the Anglo-Saxon period and in the medieval period for part of the population, such as the poorer St Michael's individuals. Inter-assemblage patterns, although restricted by small sample sizes, agree with historical and archaeological evidence for a more complex and diversified urban life in the later medieval period compared to the earlier Anglo-Saxon period. However, at the same time they highlight the similarities that overall characterized these assemblages.

Automated summary

This paper examines differences in labor-linked social divisions between the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods in the East Midlands, England. The analysis of skeletal changes suggests the absence of systematic sex-based division of labor in both periods, while also highlighting the overall similarities between the two periods despite the more complex and diversified urban life in the later medieval period compared to the earlier Anglo-Saxon period.