A medieval conference held at Parke on Saturday 29 June presented research carried out by the Moor Medieval study group over the last five years. Focusing on the period between the late eleventh and the early sixteenth centuries, speakers explored the development of Dartmoor’s landscape, the ways in which people made a living, the impact of the Black Death and the extraordinary period of economic and social change that brought the Middle Ages to a close.
The conference also saw the launch of the project’s book, ‘Moor Medieval – exploring Dartmoor in the Middle Ages’. University of Leicester historian Professor Chris Dyer, one of the editors of Harold Fox’s preeminent volume ‘Dartmoor’s Alluring Uplands’, summarised the day’s proceedings and in a keynote speech, praised the group for their efforts in furthering understanding of Dartmoor in the Middle Ages.
Organised by Community Heritage Officer Emma Stockley and social and economic medieval historian Dr David Stone, the conference saw a range of speakers take to the stage.
Emma explained, “Members of the Moor Medieval study group are incredibly enthusiastic and dedicated, and between them have a wide range of interests including archaeology, surveying, Lidar, documentary research and Latin transcription. The conference and book have been a fantastic achievement for us and I’m excited to see what the future holds for the group’s continued research”.
The Moor Medieval project is run by Dartmoor National Park Authority and is part of the Moor than meets the eye scheme. Copies of the book (paperback) cost £15 + postage & packing and can be purchased by contacting Emma Stockley emma@moorthanmeetstheeye.org.
For more information, please visit www.moorthanmeetstheeye.org
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