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The Detection and Definition of an Industry; The English Medieval and Post Medieval Pin Industry

Caple, Chris

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Authors

Chris Caple



Abstract

The different ways in which industries are described and researched using historical or archaeological evidence are highlighted. The differing pictures which emerge for the production of small wound wire headed copper alloy pins in England the late- and post-medieval period are used to exemplify the problem. The historical records indicate a turbulent industry, with initially localized craft manufacture in English towns, being swamped from the sixteenth century by a wave of imports from the continent. However, the world's major pin producing industry was subsequently founded in organized semi-automated manufactories which evolved in England during the eighteenth century. This picture contrasts with the archaeological evidence of a slow typological development of the pin head form, and gradual reduction in the pin's metrical parameters. A similar gradual development is noted in the elemental composition of the copper alloy from which the pins were made. No archaeological evidence of imports is discernible, though the changes in manufacturing technique are clearly recorded. The need to evolve a more rounded picture of industries using a variety of forms of evidence is thus emphasized.

Citation

Caple, C. (1992). The Detection and Definition of an Industry; The English Medieval and Post Medieval Pin Industry. Archaeological Journal, 148(1), 241-255. https://doi.org/10.1080/00665983.1991.11021377

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 26, 1991
Publication Date Jan 1, 1992
Deposit Date Nov 26, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Archaeological Journal
Print ISSN 0066-5983
Electronic ISSN 2373-2288
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 148
Issue 1
Pages 241-255
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00665983.1991.11021377

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