ABSTRACT
The late medieval period witnessed the emergence of new institutional and monastic forms of eremitic vocation, in particular, the Carthusian Order and Austin ‘Hermit’ Friars. However new forms of eremitic life also emerged that were almost entirely lay-based, and significantly involved many women. These were the anchorites, a religious group that were to become one of the most visible manifestations of solitary religious life in the late medieval period. This chapter will examine some of the archaeological evidence for institutional hermits with reference to key sites and studies. It will also consider the value of archaeology in identifying former anchorite cells and in reconstructing the liturgical arrangements between cells and their churches.
