IMC 2016: Sessions

Session 1031: Digital Tools and Resources: Possibilities and Challenges

Wednesday 6 July 2016, 09.00-10.30

Moderator/Chair:	Catherine A. M. Clarke, Department of English, University of Southampton
Paper 1031-a	Transparency in Practice: Setbacks and Revelations in an Online Edition of The Wanderer (Language: English) Kyle Dase, Faculteit Letteren / Faculteit Wetenschappen, KU Leuven Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Language and Literature - Old English, Manuscripts and Palaeography
Paper 1031-b	How Interactive Maps Help Students and Researchers Study Medieval Law (Language: English) José Alfredo Sánchez Álvarez, Departamento de Historia del Derecho y de las Instituciones, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid Index terms: Charters and Diplomatics, Computing in Medieval Studies, Law, Teaching the Middle Ages
Paper 1031-c	Medieval Markets and the Portable Antiquities Scheme Data (Language: English) Eljas Oksanen, Faculty of History, University of Cambridge Index terms: Archaeology - General, Economics - Trade, Geography and Settlement Studies
Abstract	Paper -a: The Wanderer: a Hypertext Edition is an online project that I have recently brought to the web as part of my MA in English at the University of Saskatchewan. It is an online, textual edition of the Anglo-Saxon poem found in the Exeter Book. This paper investigates the capacity for transparency in digital texts, taking examples from the experiences of creating this online edition. Many editors express the need for transparency of editorial choices rather than the text itself. The digital medium allows for the actualization of such an aim by means of its ability to provide resources and accessibility that print cannot. This is a report of the successes and pitfalls encountered in the attempt of such an aim, and how we can do it better. Paper -b: Interactive maps with advanced text search and filtering functionalities offer many adventages for students and researchers in medieval law. The 'Mapa Dinámico de Derecho Medieval' ('Interactive Medieval Law Map') at www.histleg.com saves time to explain and understand charters in the Iberian Peninsula. For law students this gives a complete overview about the process, not possible to get with traditional methods. For researchers this gives ordered information: different kinds of privileges, chronological and statistical information, and grant activity by kings. Paper -c: This paper discusses the results of the project 'Placing Medieval Markets in the Landscape Context through the Portable Antiquities Scheme', conducted at the British Museum in 2015. The project investigates the development of medieval commercial sites through GIS analysis of object finds gathered in the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. The object types, distribution and dating of the over 120,000 medieval finds in the PAS database will be examined, and the geographical relationships these objects bear with medieval commercial sites and travel routes discussed. The paper will argue that the PAS data offers significant new avenues of investigation for understanding the history of medieval economic institutions in their local and regional context.