Session: #67

Regular session

‘Norse-men’ in origin, the Normans are well known for their interactions abroad (outside France), conquering England, Sicily and parts of Italy, establishing themselves elsewhere also. Their material culture is likewise well known for being diverse, seemingly embracing - even assimilating - with that of those whom they came into contact with. Consequently, through their various networks and routes of communication, ‘Norman’ material culture in England, for example, is quite different to that of the ‘Normans’ whom settled in Italy or Sicily. So, to what extent can a gens normannorum be observed through the archaeology and material culture of the Normans across the places where they lived?
We invite people to consider Norman interactions through archaeology and material culture in its widest sense, from the relationship of the objects they used, and the place of these in sites or the landscape, to those of the cultures around them, to whether or not it is possible to associate material culture with the Normans specifically. This session is being proposed as part of thinking towards exhibitions on the Normans at Reiss-Engelhorn Museum (Mannheim) and the British Museum (London), and therefore it is hoped will bring to light new thoughts and ideas that can help interpret objects that might be presented for public display.

Normans, Interactions, Identity, Material Culture, Networks

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Michael Lewis (United Kingdom) ¹

Alessandra Molinari (Italy) ²
Viola Skiba (Germany) ³