Gens Normannorum – understanding Norman identity through material culture

Gens Normannorum – understanding Norman identity through material culture

Call for papers : EEA 2020, Budapest 26-30 August 2020.

Organisers : Michael Lewis, Alessandra Molinari, Viola Skiba

‘Norse-men’ in origin, the Normans are well known for their exploits abroad (outside France), conquering England, Sicily and parts of Italy, and establishing themselves elsewhere also. Likewise, their material culture is well known being diverse, seemingly embracing – even assimilating – with that of those whom they came into contact with. Henceforth the Normans in England display (on the surface at least) a different ‘cultural signal’ to those that settled in Italy or Sicily for example. So, what extent can we speak of a gens normannorum through the material culture of the Normans across the places in which they lived?    

We invite people to consider Norman identify through material culture in its widest sense, from the relationship of the objects they used to those of the cultures around them, to whether or not it is possible to associate material culture with the Normans specifically. This session is being proposed as part of thinking towards a British Museum exhibition on the Normans, and therefore it is hoped will bring to light new thoughts and ideas that can help interpret objects that might be presented for public display.

Contacts : MLewis@britishmuseum.org

                           Viola.Skiba@mannheim.de