Inaug. Diss.--Leipzig. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boise State University, 2009. / Title from t.p. of PDF file (viewed June 24, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-77).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Cambridge. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-178) and index.

This thesis examines the figure of the oral storyteller as depicted in various Old Norse literary sources written down during the High Middle Ages, the majority in Iceland, between the mid-twelfth and early fourteenth centuries. It comprises a literary-critical discussion of how storytellers and the art of storytelling are imagined, interpreted and represented within these texts. Where possible, connections are drawn between genres, and across considerable temporal and geographical distances, in order to illustrate the strength and endurance of cultural preoccupations with disguise, narrative structure and the role of intermediaries in different historical and creative contexts. The central contention is that the eddic poets and saga authors shared a common and profound sensitivity to the metatextual dimension of the storytelling endeavour in which they were engaged, and that this sensitivity manifested itself in strikingly similar ways across the whole period. The thesis is structured thematically, rather than chronologically, in order to foreground enduring cultural trends. The first chapter discusses the metatextual tendencies of the eddic poets, noting their recurring interest in disguise and the assertion (or appropriation) of an identity by characters who feature in their stories. It also includes an analysis of Vǫluspá which suggests that the poem lends itself to recitation by multiple performers. Chapter Two analyses depictions of public storytelling in the sagas and the relationship between writer and oral reciter as presented in the prologues and epilogues composed to ‘frame’ a number of these texts. Chapters Three and Four contain close readings of passages from the Sagas of Icelanders and eddic poetry, which demonstrate how certain characters, often of low social status, temporarily take on the mantle of a storyteller and perform their accounts of events so as to illuminate the texts' broader interest in the mechanics of literary narrative.

Cette étude a pour but d’appréhender l’évolution de la sépulture ainsi que l’analyse des différents lieux d’inhumation et des populations enterrées à Paris entre le XIIIe et le XVe siècle à partir des inscriptions funéraires recensées dans le recueil de l’Epitaphier du vieux Paris. Les établissements religieux de la capitale se distinguent dans leur politique funéraire ainsi que dans leur façon de gérer l’accueil des sépultures laïques. Inexistantes jusqu’au XIIIe siècle, les inhumations ad ecclesiam se généralisent et s’installent de façon durable au cœur du lieu du culte. En conséquence de cette évolution significative des pratiques funéraires, de nouveaux groupes sociaux influents accèdent enfin à une sépulture de prestige. Les officiers royaux et gouvernementaux qui reposent désormais aux côtés des membres de la famille royale et des dignitaires ecclésiastiques sont à l’origine de l’expansion des chapelles funéraires familiales. Malgré son influence croissante dans la vie économique et politique de la capitale, la bourgeoisie rencontre encore des difficultés à s’imposer dans le domaine funéraire et reste souvent dans l’ombre des grands officiers royaux. Le lieu d’inhumation revêt une importance considérable pour l’ensemble des parisiens fortunés qui n’hésitent pas à faire preuve de générosité envers les communautés religieuses pour établir leurs sépultures à peu de distance de l’autel afin de bénéficier des messes et des prières destinées à assurer leur salut. En effet, comme le prouve l’analyse formelle des tombeaux et épitaphes parisiennes, le salut de l’âme du défunt est au cœur des représentations funéraires. Le tombeau doit solliciter les suffrages des vivants mais également transmettre le souvenir de l’existence terrestre et de l’importance sociale du défunt. / This study aims at showing the evolution of sepulchres and at analysing different burial places and populations burried in Paris between the 13th and 15th century through the funerary inscriptions listed in the collection : the Épitaphier du vieux Paris. Religious establishments of the capital city can be identified through their funerary policies and through the treatment of their secular sepulchres. Non-existent until the 13th century, ad ecclesiam burials become more widespread and remain at the centre of places of worships. As a result of the significant evolution of funerary practices, new social groups of influence have access to presitigious sepulchres.Royal and governmental officers who now rest by the royal family and ecclesiasts sides originated the expansion of funerary chapels for families in churches of the capital city. Despite its increasing influence on the economic and political life of the capital city, the « bourgeoisie » still faces hardships in forcing itself on the funerary area and remains in the shadow of the so-called royal officers. The burial location is of a major importance for most wealthy Parisians who show their generosity towards religious communities so then their graves can be placed as close as possible from the altar and get masses and prayers that can guarantee their salvation. Indeed, as proven through the accurate analysis of tombs and epitaphs of Paris, salvation for the dead is at the core of funerary representations. Graves must appeal the living to pray but also share the memory of life on earth and reveal the social place of the deceased.

Notre thèse en histoire et en archéologie médiévales porte sur les entreprises minières argentifères (plomb, cuivre, zinc, argent) des XIe-XVe siècles en Languedoc oriental (départements 07, 48, 30, 34, 12). Elles sont analysées avec une approche d’histoire des techniques, dans le but d’articuler le déroulement du processus de production avec l’organisation sociale du travail et de questionner les liens que ces entreprises entretiennent avec les pouvoirs. / Our thesis in medieval history and archeology concerns the silver mining enterprises (lead, copper, zinc, silver) of the 11th-15th centuries in eastern Languedoc (départements 07, 48, 30, 34, 12). They are analyzed with a technical history approach in order to articulate the process of production with the social organization of work and to question the links that these firms maintain with the authorities.

The work deals with the issue of marks on pottery vessels in the Early and High Middle Ages in the present-day Klatovy district. An introductory chapter summarizes findings on the issue of the pottery and marking of the vessels. Furthermore, the work discusses settlement in a particular area (archaeological findings, secular and religious architecture, written records). The work also includes an experimental section, which summarizes the findings on the desk preparation, marking of the vessel sub-base issue and the pottery burning itself. A possibility of identification of identical remarks is discussed on the basis of a simple test. The thesis also contains maps, tables and illustrations of particular archaeological findings.

The handed-in thesis is divided in two parts. The first part is focused on the problems of residences in a limited area on the connected line of the towns: Veselí nad Lužnicí in the south, Bechyně in the southwest, Milevsko in the west, Sedlec - Prčice in the northwest, Votice in the north, Načeradec in the northeast and Chýnov in the east. It tries to give a survey of evolution and typology of particular noble and royal residences in the above mentioned area (archaeological findings, written sources, available bibliography). The second part deals with the material culture of the Šelmberk Castle acquired at the archaeological research in 2006. The aim of this part is analysis, synthesis and interpretation of stratified findings which were obtained from four archaeological excavations with a various amount of layers. Another part of the thesis is maps, charts as well as a depiction of particular findings including photo documentation.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the early medieval pottery found at the hillfort Na Jánu acropolis. The pottery assemblage originates from trenchs S2/2000, S3/2003, S4/2003, S5/2003, S4/2001, S5/2001 end S16/2013. I analyzed functional, technological and decorative features of the pottery and, based on these results, created relative chronology of the entire sample.

Evolution and form of the three-aisle hall type layout in Bohemian sacral architecture to the mid-15th century The hall church with two, three and rarely more aisles in German described as "Hallenkirche" is usually defined as having the aisles of the same or almost the same height as opposed to the basilica. With this type of organization the main nave is lit only indirectly because there is no space for basilica type windows. Other variants or transitional types are pseudohalls, sometimes also called pseudobasilicas (in German terminology Staffenhalle and Stufenhalle), which differ from the main type by having an elevated nave without the aforementioned direct light sources. These distinctions stem from a thought construct of art history which strives for strict taxonomy in their source material. The diversity of medieval architecture nevertheless proves that there is cannot be drawn a clear and decisive line between the basilical and hall type layouts, just as the distinction between the longitudinal and central floor plans. This is connected to the cultural semantics of the different types and the even more complicated question of the intentions of the choice. The hall type is spread all across medieval Europe from the Romanesque era to the end of the Middle Ages. This type of architecture was...