ABSTRACT
Introduction – evidence for the human – The bodies we are given – Signals of origin – The peopling of Britain – Prospects – The body we prefer – EVIDENCE FOR DRESS – Verbal evocations – Images in art – Evidence from artefacts – Textiles – Metal accoutrements – Animal language – Interpretation of clothing – PAS – Values – Uneven evidence – COSTUME STORIES – FORMATIVE 1 (400–675) – in the North and west – in England – Chronological framework – Iconic faces – The end of Formative 1 – Male assertion in the early 7th century – Dressing one’s horse – Staffordshire hoard – Female assertion in the mid-7th century – COSTUME STORIES – FORMATIVE 2 (675–850) – A glance at Irish texts – West and north Britain in Formative 2 – Pictures of Picts – Priests in their robes – Northumbria and Mercia in Formative 2 – England in Formative 2 (the long eighth century, 675–825) – COSTUME IN FORMATIVE 3 (850–1075) – Vikings (9th/10th century) – English idyll, 10th/11th century – A brief reflection on gender – CONCLUSIONS
