Prof. Helena Hamerow, Professor of Early Medieval Archaeology, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford.
How did a medieval society feed itself through changing climates, plagues, and shifting political landscapes? Professor Helena Hamerow, an expert in Early Medieval Archaeology at the University of Oxford, reconstructs the daily realities of medieval agriculture. By analyzing fascinating archaeological breakthroughs, from ancient crop seeds to animal bone fragments, she moves beyond elite court records to show how everyday peasants revolutionized farming techniques and diets. This lecture will look at the complex food supply chains, environmental adaptations, and rural innovations that physically sustained England through centuries of dramatic upheaval.