Dear All,

Ed has indicated the discussion should be closed but as I've been on holiday for the last two weeks, I'd thought I'd get one last e-mail in !  

In respect of e-discussions by Cath Maloney and Rosemary Hayes, I would reiterate that it is me (not Dr Millard) who is suggesting that the period immediately following the Medieval period is called the "Early Modern" period  based on the work of the historian, Immanuel Wallerstein, who essentially associates the term 'modern' with the formation of an integrated world economic system.  I have no problem with the idea of complementary, over-lapping or concurrent names for periods, although I would resist a strictly hierarchical (sub-set) approach.  

The post-medieval time span has at least four if not more sub-divisions each exhibiting very different archaeological complexes or formations as shown by both settlement and rural assemblages of artefacts.  This time span could include a formative or early modern period, an industrialization period, a period of social and political reorganization / upheaval / consolidation, and a fully modern period of globalization with decreasing cultural diversity. 

Based on the economic transformations of the early or formative period (increasing privatization, property law, wage labour, colonization, imported gold and other goods, etc), the industrial revolution ushered in new population dynamics, new artefacts, new ideas such as liberalism, rationalism, freedom of thought and trade, etc.  There has to be a boundary somewhere around the end of the 17th century, and this boundary can certainly be seen archaeologically in market towns across England.  

Even if we can't agree on what comes after about 1800, I think the archaeological evidence in English towns and farmsteads is sufficiently compelling to conclude that there exists at least two distinct archaeological periods between about 1535 and 1850.  Obviously, the dates for these two periods will vary depending on where you are.  In London, there may be evidence of an earlier start (1460?), while in the north, some medieval modes of production continue even into the 17th century.   That's enough for now.

Cheers, 
Neil




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