Conquest and Cuisine: Communities' Experiences of 1066 in the Adur Valley

Any form of foreign conquest or colonisation impacts the inhabitants of the land and has a
major role in shaping their identities. Irrespective of the magnitude of colonization, the
colonized/conquered population witnessed and experienced new technologies, ideas, beliefs,
social structures, commerce, etc. This influx of new economic, social and political ideas
drastically changes the daily lives of the colonised population and eventually ends up shaping
their identities. Similarly, a surge of changes followed England following the Norman
Conquest of 1066 in all facets of life that impacted the people's identities. Although there is
ample evidence from both historical and archaeological records concerning the series of
events, they are predominantly from the perspective of the people in power and elites while
overlooking the daily lives of people in the social stratum with some exceptions (Jervis 2013;
McClain 2019; Skye 2001). Therefore, with growing interest in the dietary impact of
conquests and colonisation, and the dearth of knowledge of the consequences of the Norman
Conquest, this project aims to determine both, the intensity and range, of the impact of the
Norman Conquest of 1066 on the communities of Adur Valley (Sussex, England) through
their culinary practices. This shall be achieved by instigating investigation strategies such as
ceramic analysis, both chemical and typological, and organic residue analysis under the
supervision of Dr. Lucy Cramp and Dr. Ben Jervis and with the help of James Sainsbury. In
doing so, we will be able to distinguish: how domestic life at the frontier was impacted by
this iconic event, if any new practices were adopted or if there was any resistance, and how
this varied between communities and social structures. This project will greatly contribute to
our understanding of the Norman Conquest of England and especially its impact on the daily
lives of the people while also offering comparative potential for wider studies of conquest,
colonisation, and its influences on everyday life.