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Books by Gemma Watson

Contents page. Focusing on the archaeology of medieval Europe (c. 1000–1550AD), this new four-vo... more Contents page.

Focusing on the archaeology of medieval Europe (c. 1000–1550AD), this new four-volume collection from Routledge enables researchers and advanced students to make better sense of a vast—and rapidly growing—corpus of scholarship. The gathered materials have been carefully selected to highlight the key issues and debates in the development and contemporary practice of Medieval Archaeology, and each volume includes a comprehensive introduction newly written by the editor. Medieval Archaeology is an essential work of reference. It is destined to be valued by specialists—as well as those working in allied areas such as Medieval Studies, History, and Art History—as a vital one-stop research tool.

https://www.routledge.com/Medieval-Archaeology/Gilchrist/p/book/9780415718165

Papers by Gemma Watson

A Cultural History of Medicine in the Middle Ages

Medieval healing encompassed a broad range of approaches informed by science, religion and folklo... more Medieval healing encompassed a broad range of approaches informed by science, religion and folklore, performed by an equally diverse group of practitioners. This chapter discusses the contribution that artifactual analyses make to a cultural history of medieval medicine, and more specifically what the study of archaeological sources can offer, drawing principally on evidence from medieval Britain.

The dataset was created during research for Professor Roberta Gilchrist's Rhind Lectures in 2... more The dataset was created during research for Professor Roberta Gilchrist's Rhind Lectures in 2017 and subsequent publication on Sacred Heritage (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming). The Rhind Lectures are hosted annually by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Part of this research concentrated on establishing the range of archaeological evidence for magic and healing practices from later medieval monastic and church contexts in Scotland (c. 1000 AD – c. 1600 AD). This was collected from published excavation reports and from Historic Environment Scotland's Canmore Database, and was recorded in a Microsoft Access database. Evidence was chosen for inclusion in the database based on current understandings of medieval magic and healing, and the potential forms this could take in the archaeological record. It is comprised of burials, objects and environmental data, such as medicinal plant remains, amulets, evidence for surgery and pathology on human skeletal remains. This ...

Introductory chapter to edited collection on biography

From the Atlantic to the Black Sea, 2015

A re-examination of the herald Roger Machado's extant memorandum book, which contains an inve... more A re-examination of the herald Roger Machado's extant memorandum book, which contains an inventory and mercantile accounts amongst its contents. It is argued that this little-studied source provides evidence for an otherwise undocumented period in Machado's life - when he fled into exile to join Henry Tudor.

This thesis is the micro-history of Roger Machado, who is best known as Leicester Herald for Edwa... more This thesis is the micro-history of Roger Machado, who is best known as Leicester Herald for Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III, and the senior herald, Richmond King of Arms, for Henry VII. Prior to this thesis, Machado has only been sparsely considered by scholars because he is elusive in the historical record. There is, in the College of Arms, his extant memorandum book, but otherwise, sources referring to him are few and far between. However, in the 1970s, Machado’s Southampton residence was excavated, which unearthed a rich artefact assemblage associated with his occupancy. This discovery has allowed for a fresh perspective on Machado’s life. This thesis, therefore, uses both documentary and archaeological sources to unlock the man from the records, and consequently, places a strong emphasis on the importance of interdisciplinary research. By pursuing a micro-historical approach that focusses on Machado’s engagement with objects, this thesis uses Machado as a window into the w...

An examination of the medieval herald's role in international espionage. It is argued that he... more An examination of the medieval herald's role in international espionage. It is argued that heralds were used as spies, despite their creation oaths stipulating that their job should not encompass this task. The herald Roger Machado's involvement in the diplomacy surrounding the pretender to the English throne, Perkin Warbeck, is scrutinized and is offered as evidence that Machado did act as a spy for Henry VII on the international stage.

The dataset was created during research for Professor Roberta Gilchrist’s Rhind Lectures in 2017 ... more The dataset was created during research for Professor Roberta Gilchrist’s Rhind Lectures in 2017 and subsequent publication on Sacred Heritage (R. Gilchrist, 'Sacred Heritage and Monastic Archaeology: Interpreting Medieval Identities and Beliefs', Cambridge University Press, forthcoming). The Rhind Lectures are hosted annually by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Part of this research concentrated on establishing the range of archaeological evidence for magic and healing practices from later medieval monastic and church contexts in Scotland (c. 1000 AD – c. 1600 AD). This was collected from published excavation reports and from Historic Environment Scotland’s Canmore Database, and was recorded in a Microsoft Access database. Evidence was chosen for inclusion in the database based on current understandings of medieval magic and healing, and the potential forms this could take in the archaeological record. It is comprised of burials, objects and environmental data, such ...

Introductory chapter to edited collection on biography

Talks by Gemma Watson

Roger Machado is best known as Richmond King of Arms for Henry VII of England from 1485 to 1510. ... more Roger Machado is best known as Richmond King of Arms for Henry VII of England from 1485 to 1510. He is a very enigmatic figure as the extant evidence for his life (as with most individuals living at this time) is fragmentary at best and he appears to have lived a very nomadic existence living and travelling around Europe throughout his life. Nevertheless, there is some evidence for his life that we do not have for any other medieval herald; extant physical objects that can be attributed to him. Machado lived in Southampton between 1486 and 1497 and it was his home there that was the focus of excavations in 1977 and 1978. A rich assemblage of continental ceramics and Venetian glass was unearthed that have revealed the everyday life of Machado; something few manuscripts can provide. However, the archaeological evidence is not the only source for Machado that includes objects. Machado’s extant memorandum book (London, College of Arms, MS Arundel 51, fols 29-88) includes within its pages an inventory and mercantile accounts that refer to objects Machado owned, bought and sold.
The aim of this paper is to show how my research was able employ a material culture perspective when looking at the life of Roger Machado. My paper will begin by briefly outlining what is known about Machado from the historical sources. I will then argue that Machado was involved in a plot to overthrow Richard III that resulted in him fleeing England for the Continent to join the pretender Henry Tudor in exile. I will use his extant inventory and mercantile accounts to support this theory.
The second half of my paper will discuss the archaeological evidence and what it tells us about the everyday life of a herald living in a provincial English town. The majority of the objects excavated were used during dining, so I will describe how they would have been used in this setting and what their significance was.

History of Herlads Workshop (26-28 March 2014), Muenster, Germany.

A conference paper given at the Knowlege Exchange in the Humanities Conference at the University ... more A conference paper given at the Knowlege Exchange in the Humanities Conference at the University of Southampton. This paper drew upon my own experiences of the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) scheme. My CDA is entitled Roger Machado: A Life in Objects and in its simplest form is a biography of the fifteenth -century herald, Roger Machado. What makes this biography different from other more conventional biographies is that it combines archaeology with documentary evidence. As part of the CDA, my research formed the basis of a display in Southampton’s SeaCity Museum, in the gallery Gateway to the World. This paper considered the process of how my PhD was turned into this display, the benefits of collaboration outside of academia, and what I, as an early-career academic, will take away from the CDA experience.

A paper given at Diplomatic Fabrics conference. I discussed Machado's role within the embassies ... more A paper given at Diplomatic Fabrics conference. I discussed Machado's role within the embassies he attended to Spain, Portugal and Brittany using his extant journal accounts. I also discussed the importance of dining in diplomacy, reconstructing a meal that the ambassadors Machado was accompanying to Spain and Portugal had at his Southampton residence, using the objects excavated from his home.

A lecture given at ‘Court and Port: Life in Tudor London and Southampton‘ Study Day. I talked a... more A lecture given at ‘Court and Port: Life in Tudor London and Southampton‘ Study Day. I talked about Machado's life in Southampton using the archaeological and historical evidence we have for him from Southampton.

I discussed my experience of using interdisciplinary approaches, focusing on my current research ... more I discussed my experience of using interdisciplinary approaches, focusing on my current research on Roger Machado.

I gave a lecture on my PhD research on Roger Machado to local residents in Southampton.

Contents page. Focusing on the archaeology of medieval Europe (c. 1000–1550AD), this new four-vo... more Contents page.

https://www.routledge.com/Medieval-Archaeology/Gilchrist/p/book/9780415718165

A Cultural History of Medicine in the Middle Ages

Introductory chapter to edited collection on biography

From the Atlantic to the Black Sea, 2015

Introductory chapter to edited collection on biography

History of Herlads Workshop (26-28 March 2014), Muenster, Germany.

I gave a lecture on my PhD research on Roger Machado to local residents in Southampton.

This lecture to the local museum and archaeology society in Southampton discussed Roger Machado's... more This lecture to the local museum and archaeology society in Southampton discussed Roger Machado's life in Southampton at the end of the fifteenth century.

An introduction to my research on the herald Roger Machado. I discussed the importance of interdi... more An introduction to my research on the herald Roger Machado. I discussed the importance of interdisciplinary research in Medieval and Renaissance studies using the life of Roger Machado as a case study.

I discussed the importance of interdisciplinary reseacrh using the case study of Roger Machado. ... more I discussed the importance of interdisciplinary reseacrh using the case study of Roger Machado. My paper focussed on Machado's inventory and material culture from his Southampton residence and discussed the use of material culture in the dining arena at the end of the fifteenth century.

This paper discussed the micro-history of Roger Machado and how his life can throw new light and ... more This paper discussed the micro-history of Roger Machado and how his life can throw new light and ask new questions about the later fifteenth century. In particular I discussed the role of heralds, Machado's involvement in the capture of Perkin Warbeck, and the dining arena in late fifteenth century Europe.

Contents page. https://www.routledge.com/Medieval-Archaeology/Gilchrist/p/book/9780415718165 F... more Contents page.

https://www.routledge.com/Medieval-Archaeology/Gilchrist/p/book/9780415718165

A Cultural History of Medicine in the Middle Ages, 2021

The Middle Ages are well-known for the growth of universities and urban regulations, plague pande... more The Middle Ages are well-known for the growth of universities and urban regulations, plague pandemics, increasingly sophisticated ways of causing injury in warfare, and abiding frameworks for health and illness provided by religion. Increasingly, however, archaeologists, historians and literary specialists have come together to flesh out the daily lives of medieval people at all levels of society, both in Christian Europe and the Islamic Mediterranean. A Cultural History of Medicine in the Middle Ages follows suit, but also brings new approaches and comparisons into the conversation.

Through the investigation of poems, pottery, personal letters, recipes and petitions, and through a breadth of topics running from street-cleaning, cooking and amulets to religious treatises and death rituals, this volume accords new meaning and value to the period and those who lived it. Its chapters confirm that the study of latrines, patterns of manuscript circulation, miracle narratives, sermons, skeletons, metaphors and so on, have as much to tell us about attitudes towards health and illness as do medical texts. Delving within and beyond texts, and focusing on the sensory, the experiential, the personal, the body and the spirit, this volume celebrates and critiques the diverse and complex cultural history of medieval health and medicine.