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Peter
Jordan & Mark Brisbane, eds.
Wood
Use In Medieval Novgorod.
UCL
Press, 2006.
Archaeology
of Medieval Novgorod series.
336pp.
Publisher's
recommended price
Wiro binding
ISBN
1844720764, £60.00
Novgorod has probably the
most comprehensive collection of excavated wooden objects and
structures from any site in the world. The town and its material
culture were completely dominated by wood. Equally important, the
preservation of this material has been excellent due to benign
anaerobic waterlogged conditions.
This book describes various aspects of the use of wood in medieval
Novgorod in twenty-five chapters written by the world's leading
authorities on this material. It provides fascinating detail on the way
wooden material was used in structures such as buildings, streets,
yards, fences; industrial activity, for example spinning and weaving,
footwear production; transport, such as skis, sleighs or boats;
household objects, for example containers, furniture, combs, toys and
games; musical instruments; accountancy and commerce (tally sticks,
tribute seals); and ritual and decoration. Most of the objects
discussed date from the 10th century AD to the 15th, but the book
includes comparisons to ethnographic evidence from more recent periods.
Importantly, many of the chapters are written by Russian authors,
bringing their work to the English audience for the first time. A
bibliography of previously published material and extensive
illustration make this volume a necessary addition to any serious
archaeological research library shelf and the wealth of information
provided about everyday life in this important medieval centre of
commerce will be a great interest to medievalists and historians of
Russia.
Contents
Preface; Introduction to Novgorod; Woodworking tools; The use of wood
in civil engineering; The buildings of Novgorod; Agricultural
equipment; Hunting and fishing equipment; Wood use in spinning and
weaving; Footwear production; Land transport; Water transport;
Stave-built vessels; Turned vessels; Household objects; Carved
utensils; Wooden combs; Mirror and wax tablet frames; Toys and models;
Chess pieces and gaming boards; Musical instruments; Decorative carved
wooden objects; Wood use in ritual contexts; Accounting, tags and
credit tallies; Wood use in medieval Novgorod; Bibliography of Novgorod
Wood; References; Index.
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