ABSTRACT
The period after 1945 was a time of remarkable growth for later medieval archaeology. In the immediate post-war period few scholars thought of themselves as ‘medieval archaeologists’; they were more likely to be local historians or historical geographers, but they worked side-by-side in the societies and groups which quickly established themselves and provided direction for research.The release of additional resources and the purposeful application of new techniques vastly increased the perceived potential of the subject and attracted a new generation of researchers who undertook influential fieldwork and excavation across a broadening spectrum of monuments.These included the excavations at Hen Domen,Wharram Percy and Winchester and the Five Castles programme. Elsewhere, the archaeological response to development was mostly low-key and sites could be destroyed without adequate record. This chapter ends in 1970, as new conceptual trends were filtering into publication and the ‘Rescue’ movement was gathering momentum.
