A day-school held by CBA Yorkshire in association with the Institute of Medieval Studies University of Leeds and the Medieval Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society.
To be held at the Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, University of Leeds, on Saturday 25th October 2008

This day-school will explore a multi-disciplinary and multi-period theme, thus appealing to a wide range of people. Until the 18th century farming formed the backbone of society from the earliest settled times. As such a variety of field system, plans of different dates form a bewildering pattern across most of the historic landscape. They are usually studied through archaeological principles and within cultural periods. Their form and development transcended cultural periods. They are therefore best understood as a landscape theme, but clearly integrated with settlements and communications, major themes which will be considered in similar day schools in 2009 and 2010.

The day-school will examine field systems by their form, why they are there, evidence for use and their lifespan through a series of disciplines and techniques, which will include the natural elements of geology and geography, field survey, aerial photography (including the exciting new technique of LiDaR), written records, maps and name evidence.

  9.30 Registration

10.00 The idea of fields Professor Richard Morris

10.45 Early field systems uf the Wolds, Vale of York and southern Yorkshire as seen from the
          air Yvonne Boutwood

11.30 Coaxial field systems twenty years on: questions of scale and meaning
          Professor Andrew Fleming

12.15  Lunch

  1.30 The organisation of township field systems Barry Harrison

  2.15 The enclosure of landscapes Professor Richard Hoyle

  3.00 Break

  3.30 The content of field systems through time: the evidence of field survey
          Stephen Moorhouse

  4,15 Summing up

  4.30 Close

The cost of the day school is £12.50p (incl. drinks). Lunch is not provided but there are a number of nearby that do food, and a range of good meals are available at the Students Union near the hall. Free Parking is in the University car park, accessed from Woodhouse Lane to the south of the Parkinson Building. Please send a cheque, made payable to CBA Yorkshire, for the right amount to :
Mike Edwards, Secretary CBA Yorkshire, 12 Smithwell Lane, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge,West Yorks; HX7 7NX

For further information please contact Stephen Moorhouse. Tele 01924 475618. If you require an acknowledgement or a map of Leeds showing the venue and parking please enclose a SAE with your application.