The name stones of Northumbria – carved stones bearing a name and often further inscriptions – have been examined by scholars for more than a century, resulting in disagreement as to their function and role in antiquity. Maddern presents us with a new and thorough study of the stones which explores this distinct corpus of material comprehensively, based on her doctoral research.
Chapter 1 introduces the topic and previous scholarship, as well as outlining Maddern’s method. Each subsequent chapter presents key aspects of the name stones’ interpretation: excavation history (Chapter 2); functions (Chapter 3); epigraphy (Chapter 4); death, burial and memory (Chapter 5); liturgy (Chapter 6); apocalypse and last judgement (Chapter 7); visions, penances and prayers (Chapter 8); and iconography (Chapter 9). A concluding chapter brings each strand of interpretation together, providing interlaced understanding for a monument of deceptive aesthetic simplicity.
Maddern’s exploration of this broad range of themes, examining attributes of the name stones in individual detail and in the greater artistic and theological contexts, is to be applauded. The discrete treatment of these themes – for example, distinguishing the choice of cruciform and the implications of its centre, terminal and base decoration in Chapter 9 from the epigraphic evidence in Chapter 4 – allows the author to build up a picture of the links between the Northumbrian Church and monastic communities and other Christian centres and schools of thought, both in terms of material representations and theologically. In conclusion, she is able to assert that the influence of Northumbrian manuscript traditions and apocalyptic concerns had considerable impact on the production and use of name stones. She also provides a useful overview on the dating of the corpus and its role in monastic communities – this latter underscored by the thematic exploration.
Published by Brepols, and set at the standard Brepols price, the volume bears the portable-yet-robust size and format of the Studies in the Early Middle Ages series. The illustrations are reproduced clearly and at appropriate size for interrogation of the image in relation to the text; many of the illustrations consist of crisp line drawings that effectively delineate important detail – detail that can be difficult to see when observing the stones directly, let alone in photographs. In addition, there is a series of colour plates that provide useful reference throughout reading. For this reader, however, there were two conspicuous absences (though perhaps reflecting a discipline bias): a cohesive catalogue detailing and illustrating with line-art and photographs each name stone in brief; and the maps and graphs that provide a clearer indication of the distribution and quantities of decorative elements discussed through the book. The lack of a catalogue means that the reader is constantly referring to the list of plates and illustrations to consult the appropriate image, and that it is not possible to view groups of name stones (for example, from Lindisfarne) with any convenience. Similarly, this reviewer would like to have seen what the distribution and quantitative figures were for elements identified on stones, rather than the frequently repeated lists. While visual catalogues are to be found in other sources, such as the Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, the absence of these illustrations is unfortunate in that it requires the reader to rely on further reference material. This criticism aside, Maddern’s investigation of the name stones provides yet more evidence for the importance of Northumbria in early medieval Europe. This will be a useful addition to a library for those interested in early medieval theology and representation.
