Mead-Halls of the Oiscingas: A New Kentish Perspective on the Anglo-Saxon Great Hall Complex Phenomenon

Figures & data

fig 1 Location of excavations in relation to the modern-day topography of Lyminge. Illustration by Lyminge Archaeological Project. Base map © Crown Copyright/database right 2016. An Ordnance Survey/Edina Service.

fig 2 Topographic settings of Lyminge, Dover and Eynsford. Illustration by Matthew Austin. Base map © Crown Copyright/database right 2016. An Ordnance Survey/Edina Service.

fig 3 Plan of Tayne Field excavations showing features relating to the two main phases of Anglo-Saxon occupation. Illustration by Lyminge Archaeological Project.

fig 4 Plan of the 7th-century great hall complex; arrows mark the position of entrances. Illustration by Lyminge Archaeological Project.

fig 5 A view of the western doorway of Hall B (Phase 3) showing structural detail at the base of the massive retaining pit. The rectangular planks of the two door posts are clearly visible in the configuration of stone packing material. Vertical scale: 1 m. Photograph © Lyminge Archaeological Project.

fig 6 Vertical view of Hall B and its three constituent phases. Photograph by William Laing. © Lyminge Archaeological Project.

fig 7 Plan of excavated Anglo-Saxon features within the late Roman-period fort at Dover. Redrawn from Philp 2003, fig 1, with additions by author.

fig 8 Plan of Dover building S14. Redrawn from Philp 2003, fig 34, with additions by author.

fig 9 Distribution of opus signinum flooring from Lyminge. Fragments are denoted by crosses. Illustration by Lyminge Archaeological Project.

fig 10 Fragments of opus signinum flooring from Lyminge. Photographs by Sarah Lambert-Gates. © Lyminge Archaeological Project.

fig 11 Fragment of opus signinum flooring, or possible internal walling, from Lyminge. Photographs by Sarah Lambert-Gates. © Lyminge Archaeological Project.

fig 12 Plan of great hall from Eynsford. Redrawn from Philp 2014, fig 5.

Table 1 Fragments of opus signinum/concrete flooring from Lyminge. See Supplementary Material for the results of detailed compositional analysis.

Context	Dimensions	Morphological description	Surface treatment
LYM 14; SF 164	Th 120 mm; W 130 mm; D 105 mm	The fragment preserves the original thickness of the floor and displays vertical exterior edge with a projecting lip at the base where the floor has been pressed against the flat surface of a vertical timber.	The surface skim is comprised of two discrete layers. The lower is orange-red and consists of tiny chips of brick/tile set in a sparse, effervescent lime-mortar. The upper layer is dark purplish red and composed of partly crushed and powdered (?) red ochre/burnt iron ore set in a whitish, effervescent lime mortar.
LYM 13; SF 773	Th 110 mm; W 105 mm; D 82 mm.	A fragment of concrete adhering to a large basal flint derived from the bedding layer of the floor.	A thick (2–3 mm), orange-red, uneven coating of coarsely crushed brick/tile within a matrix of dust.
LYM 13; SF 389	Th 75 mm; W 155 mm; D 85 mm.	Fragment comprising a layer of concrete the underside of which bears ghost indentations from a basal layer of flints.	A thick (2–3 mm), orange-red, uneven coating of coarsely crushed brick/tile.
LYM 13; SF 540	Th 60 mm; W 115 mm; D 75 mm.	An irregular fragment comprising the mortar constituent with its surface skim.	A thick (2–3 mm), uneven coating of coarsely çrushed, orange-red brick/tile.
LYM 13, SF 682	Th 25 mm; 135 mm; D 120 mm	This fragment is substantially thinner than those above, but the regularity of the lower surface argues against the hypothesis that this has sheared away from a thicker fragment. This must imply a different, less robust, style of stone flooring or alternatively part of a wall feature such as a niche. While of the same general composition as the above, the matrix of the lime concrete in this case has small chips of Roman brick/tile running through it.	A thin (c 1 mm) layer of lime-mortar parts of which are worn smooth.

Philp, B 2003, The Discovery and Excavation of Anglo-Saxon Dover, Dover: Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit.

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Philp, B 2014, ‘A major Anglo-Saxon site at Eynsford’, in B Philp, Discoveries and Excavations across Kent, 1970–2014, Dover: Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, 118–36.

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