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Biography

I was appointed a Lecturer in Early Medieval Archaeology at Bangor in 1979 and became Professor of Medieval Archaeology in 2008. I retired in December 2020 and am now Emeritus Professor of Medieval Archaeology. I continue to supervise some research students.

I am a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. I am currently Chair of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and an Honorary Professor at the University of Durham.

I completed my BA in Archaeology, Ancient and Medieval History at Liverpool University in 1976. I then moved to the University of Durham where I gained a PhD in Archaeology. My thesis examined early medieval sculpture in the Irish Midlands.

Research

My research is multidisciplinary embracing Archaeology, History and Art History. I am particularly interested in early medieval Wales c. AD 400–1100. I also have a continuing interest in early medieval Ireland and Scotland as well as aspects of the history of archaeology.

Much of my research continues to focus on early medieval inscribed stones and stone sculpture in Wales. I am interested not only in the monuments themselves but also in their landscape contexts and what they can tell us about the early medieval society, identity, the Church, patronage and wealth. I have published two volumes of A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales, Volume II, South-West Wales (2007); Volume III, North Wales (2013). My research project with Gary Robinson (Bangor University) and Howard Williams (University of Chester) on the ninth-century Pillar of Eliseg has resulted in my growing interest in monument biography.

I am currently completing a book funded by a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship on Life in Early Medieval Wales to be published by Oxford University Press.

Publications

Books

2017        Edwards, N., Ní Mhaonaigh, M. and Flechner, R. (eds), Transforming Landscapes of Belief in the Early Insular World and Beyond, Converting the Isles 2, Turnhout, Brepols, xx + 526 pages. Contains: Edwards, N. and Ní Mhaonaigh, M. ‘Transforming landscapes of belief in the early medieval Insulat world and beyond: an introduction’, 1–17; Edwards, N. ‘Chi-rhos, crosses and Pictish symbols: inscribed stones and stone sculpture in early medieval Wales and Scotland’, 381–407; Edwards, N., Ní Mhaonaigh, M. and Flechner, R. ‘Converting the Isles: reflections and reconsiderations’, 493–513.

2013        Edwards, N. (with contributions by J. Horák, H. Jackson, H. McKee, D. N. Parsons and P. Sims-Williams), A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales, Volume III, North Wales, Cardiff, University of Wales Press, xx + 524 pages, numerous illus.

2009        Edwards, N. (ed.)  The Archaeology of the Early Medieval Celtic Churches, Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph 29 / Society for Church Archaeology Monograph 1, Leeds, Maney, xi + 411 pages, numerous black-and-white and colour illus. Includes ‘The archaeology of the early medieval Celtic churches – an introduction’, 1–18.

2007        Edwards, N. (with contributions by H. Jackson, H. McKee and P. Sims-Williams), A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales, Volume II, South-West Wales, Cardiff, University of Wales Press, xix + 568 pages, 403 illus. Prize:G. T. Clark Prize, Cambrian Archaeological Association.

2001        Redknap, M., Edwards, N., Youngs, S., Lane, A. and Knight, J. (eds), Pattern and Purpose in Insular Art. Proceedings of the 4^th International Conference on Insular art, Oxford, Oxbow Books, ix + 284pp, numerous illus., 22 colour plates.

1997        Edwards, N., (ed.) Landscape and Settlement in Medieval Wales, Oxford, Oxbow Monograph 81, vii + 166pp, 51 illus. Includes ‘Landscape and settlement in medieval Wales, an introduction’, 1–11.

1992        Edwards, N. and Lane, A. (eds) The Early Church in Wales and the West, Oxford, Oxbow Monograph 13. Includes (with A. Lane) ‘The archaeology of the early church in Wales: an introduction’, 1–10.

1990        Edwards, N., The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland, London, Batsford, Pensylvania, University of Pennsylvania Press, 229pp, 95 illus.  1996 paperback edition. 1999, 2001, 2004 reprints published by London, Routledge, now print on demand.

1988        Edwards, N. and Lane, A.(eds) 1988 Early Medieval Settlements in Wales AD 400–1100, Bangor, Research Centre Wales and Cardiff, Dept of Archaeology, UC Cardiff, 157pp. Includes (with A. Lane) Introduction, 1–15, + 20 gazetteer entries. Prize: G. T. Clark Prize, Cambrian Archaeological Association.

Pamphlet

2015        Edwards, N. The Early Medieval Sculpture of Wales: Text Pattern and Image, Kathleen Hughes Memorial Lectures 13, Cambridge, Hughes Hall and Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, University of Cambridge, 40pp.

Exhibition Catalogue

2010        Edwards, N. and Roberts, B. F. Edward Lhuyd 1660–1709, Aberystwyth, University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, 43pp, numerous colour pls.

Articles and Book Chapters

2020        Edwards, N., ‘Afterlives: reinventing early medieval sculpture in Wales’, Archaeologia Cambrensis, 169, 1–29.

2017        Edwards, N., ‘The archaeology of early medieval Wales: a matter of identity’, Studia Celtica, 51, 65–87.

2017        Hopewell, D. and Edwards, N., ‘An early medieval settlement and field-systems at Rhuddgaer, Anglesey’, Archaeologia Cambrensis, 166, 213–42.

2017        Edwards, N., ‘Crucifixion iconography on early medieval sculpture in Wales’, in E. Cambridge and J. Hawkes (eds), Crossing Boundaries, Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Art, Material Culture, Language and Literature of the Early Medieval World, Oxford and Philadelphia, Oxbow Books, 36–45.

2016        Edwards, N.,  ‘Perspectives on conversion in Wales’, in R. Flechner, and M. Ní Mhaonaigh (eds), The Introduction of Christianity into the Early Medieval Insular World, Converting the Isles I, Turnhout, Brepols, 85–96.

2016        Edwards, N., ‘Christianising the landscape in early medieval Wales: the island of Anglesey’, in T. Ó Carragáin and S. Turner (eds), Making Christian Landscapes – Conversion and Consolidation in Early Medieval Europe, Cork, Cork University Press, 177–203, 482–8.

2016        Edwards, N., Davies, T. and Hemer, K. E., ‘Research framework for the archaeology of early medieval Wales c. AD 400–1070’, http://www.archaeoleg.org.uk/pdf/refresh2016/earlymedrefresh2016.pdf

2016        Edwards, N., ‘New discoveries of early medieval carved stones in Wales’, Archaeologia Cambrensis, 165, 187–99.

2016        Edwards, N., ‘The inscribed stone’ in J. D. Hedges, ‘Bronze Age settlement and early medieval cemetery at Arfryn, Bodedern, Anglesey’, Archaeologia Cambrensis, 165, 171–5.

2015        Edwards, N., ‘Christianising the Landscape: The Archaeology of the Early Medieval Church in Wales’, in P. S. Barnwell (ed.), Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 300-950, Rewley House Studies in the Historic Environment 4, Donington, Shaun Tyas, 33–55.

2015        Tong, J., Evans, S., Williams, H. Edwards, N. and Robinson, G., ‘Vlog to death: Project Eliseg’s video-blogging’, Internet Archaeology, 39.http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue39/index.html

2014        Edwards, N. and Vousdon, N., ‘A rediscovered piece of early medieval sculpture from Silian, Ceredigion’, Archaeology in Wales, 53, 125–30.

2013        Edwards, N., ‘The early medieval sculpture of north Wales:  context, wealth and patronage’, in J. Hawkes (ed.), Making Histories, Proceedings of the 7^th International Insular Art Conference, Donington, Shaun Tyas,50–64.

2013        Edwards, N., and Gould, J., ‘From antiquarians to archaeologists in nineteenth-century Wales: the question of prehistory’, in N. Evans and H. Pryce (eds), Writing a Small Nation’s Past: Wales in Comparative Perspective, 1850–1950, Farnham, Ashgate, 143–63.

2012        Edwards, N. ‘Early Medieval Wales Archaeology Research Group “EMWARG” - the first 25 years’, Archaeology in Wales, 51, 129–33.

2012        Edwards, N. ‘Roman continuity and reinvention: the early medieval inscribed stones of north Wales’, in W. J. Britnell and R. J. Silvester (eds), Reflections on the Past. Essays in honour of Frances Lynch, Welshpool, Cambrian Archaeological Association, 390–405.

2011        Edwards, N. ‘Viking-age sculpture in north-west Wales: wealth, power, patronage and the Christian landscape’, in F. Edmonds and P. Russell (eds), Tome: Studies in Medieval Celtic History and Law in honour of Thomas Charles-Edwards, Woodbridge, 73–87.

2011        Edwards, N. ‘The decoration of the earliest Welsh manuscripts’, in R. Gameson (ed.), The History of the Book in Britain, Volume I c. 400–1100, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 244–8.

2010        Edwards, N.  ‘Edward Lhuyd: an archaeologist’s view’, Welsh History Review, 25(1), 20–50.

2010        Edwards, N., Lane, A. and Redknap, M. ‘Early medieval Wales: an updated framework for archaeological research’, http://www.archaeoleg.org.uk/pdf/reviewdocs/earlymedreview.pdf

2009        Edwards, N. ‘Rethinking the Pillar of Eliseg’, Antiquaries Journal, 89, 143–78.

2008        Ghey, E., Edwards, N., Johnston, R.  ‘Categorizing roundhouse settlements in Wales: a critical perspective’, Studia Celtica, 42, 1–25.

2008        Edwards, N. ‘An early medieval penannular brooch from Ty’n y Coed, Pentraeth, Anglesey’, Archaeologia Cambrensis, 157, 153–6.

2007        Edwards, N. ‘Edward Lhuyd and the origins of early medieval Celtic archaeology’, Antiquaries Journal, 87, 165–96.

2007        Edwards, N. ‘The early medieval inscribed stones and stone sculpture in south-west Wales: the Irish Sea connection’, in R. Moss (ed.) Making and Meaning. Proceedings of the 5^th International Insular Art Conference, Trinity College Dublin 25-28 August 2005, Dublin, Four Courts Press, 184–97.

2007        Ghey, E., Edwards, N., Johnston, R. and Pope, R. 2007 Characterising the Welsh Roundhouse: chronology, inhabitation and landscape Internet Archaeology 23, 3.4  http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue23/1/3.html#3.4

2006        Edwards, N. ‘The early medieval sculpture of Bangor Fawr yn Arfon’ in M. Meeke (ed.), The Modern Traveller to our Past. Festschrift in honour of Ann Hamlin, Dublin, DPK, 105–11.

2005        Edwards, N., ‘The archaeology of early medieval Ireland, c.400-1169: settlement and economy’, in D. Ó Crónín (ed.), A New History of Ireland, I Prehistoric and Early Ireland, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 235–300.

2005        Edwards, N., Lane, A. Bapty, I. and Redknap, M., ‘Early medieval Wales: a framework for archaeological research’, Archaeol. Wales, 45, 33-46. http://www.archaeoleg.org.uk/pdf/earlymed/VERSION%2001%20EARLY%20MEDIEVAL.pdf

2002        Edwards, N., ‘Celtic saints and early medieval archaeology’, in A. T. Thacker and R. Sharpe (eds), Local Saints and Local Churches in the Early Medieval West, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 225–65.

2001        Edwards, N., ‘Early medieval inscribed stones and stone sculpture in Wales: context and function’, Medieval Archaeology, 45, 15–39.

2001        Edwards, N., ‘Monuments in a landscape, the early medieval sculpture of St David’s’, in H. Hamerow and A. MacGregor (eds), Image and Power in the Archaeology of Early Medieval Britain, Essays in Honour of Rosemary Cramp, Oxford, Oxbow Books, 53–77.

2001        Jones, N., Silvester, B. and Edwards, N., ‘St Cyngar’s Church, Hope’, Archaeology Wales, 41, 42–50.

2000        Edwards, N., ‘New research on stone sculpture in Wales’, Church Archaeology, 4, 60–2.

1999        Edwards, N., ‘Viking-influenced sculpture in north Wales, its ornament and context’, Church Archaeology, 3, 5–16.

1999        Edwards, N., ‘Adnabod yr eglwys ganoloesol gynnar yng Ngwynedd’, in W. Griffith (gol.), ‘Ysbrud Dealltwrus ac Enaid Anfarwol’, Ysgrifau ar Hanes Crefydd ac Enwardaeth yng Ngwynedd, Bangor, Prifysgol Cymru, 15–36.

1998        Edwards, N., ‘The Irish connection’, in S. Foster (ed.), The St Andrews Sarcophagus, a Masterpiece and its International Connections, Dublin, Four Courts Press, 227–39.

1998        Edwards, N., ‘Early medieval Munster: summary and prospect’, in M. A. Monk and J. Sheehan (eds), Early Medieval Munster, Archaeology, History and Society, Cork, Cork University Press, 200–5.

1998        Edwards, N., ‘A group of shafts and related sculpture from Clonmacnoise and its environs’, in H. King (ed.), Clonmacnoise Studies, Volume 1, Dublin, Dúchas, the Heritage Service, 101–18.

1997        Edwards, N., ‘Two carved stone pillars from Trefollwyn, Anglesey’, Archaeolgical Journal, 154, 108–17.

1996        Edwards, N., ‘Identifying the archaeology of the early church in Wales and Cornwall’, in J. Blair and C. Pyrah (eds), Church Archaeology, Research Directions for the Future, York, CBA res. rep. 104, 49–62.

1995        Edwards, N., ‘11th-century Welsh illuminated manuscripts: the nature of the Irish connection’, in C. Bourke (ed.), From the Isles of the North, Early Medieval Art in Britain and Ireland, Belfast, HMSO, 147–55.

1994        Edwards, N., ‘Iconography of the Irish high crosses: Carolingian influence in Ireland in the ninth century’, Early Medieval Europe, 3(i), 63–71 (review article).

1992        Edwards, N. and Hulse, T. G., ‘A fragment of a reliquary casket from Gwytherin, Denbighshire’, Antiquaries Journal, 72, 91–101.

1991        Edwards, N., ‘Dark Age Clwyd’, in J. Manley, S. Grenter and F. Gale (eds), The Archaeology of Clwyd, Mold, Clwyd County Council, 129–41, 240–1.

1991        Edwards, N., ‘The archaeology of the early church in Wales: a review of the evidence’, Logos, 1 (ii), 22–7.

1990        Edwards, N., ‘Some crosses of County Kilkenny’, in W. Nolan and K. Whelan (eds), Kilkenny: History and Society, Dublin, Geography Publications, 33–61, 639–44.

1987        Edwards, N., ‘Abstract ornament on early medieval Irish crosses: a preliminary catalogue, in Ryan, M. (ed.), Ireland and Insular Art A.D. 500–1200, Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 111–17.

1986        Edwards, N., ‘Anglesey in the early middle ages: the archaeological evidence’, Transactions Anglesey Antiquarian Society, 19–42.

1986        Edwards, N., ‘The South Cross, Clonmacnois (with an appendix on the incidence of vine-scroll on Irish sculpture)’, in J. Higgitt (ed.), Early Medieval Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Oxford, British Archaeological Reports,Brit. ser. 152, 23–48.

1985        Edwards, N., ‘The origins of the free-standing cross in Ireland: imitation or innovation?’, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 32, 393–410.

1985        Edwards, N., ‘A possible Viking grave from Benllech, Anglesey’, Transactions Anglesey Antiquarian Society, 19–24.

1984        Edwards, N., ‘Two sculptural fragments from Clonmacnois’, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 114, 57–62.

1983        Edwards, N., ‘An early group of crosses from the kingdom of Ossory’, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland , 113, 5–46.

1983        Edwards, N., ‘Some observations on the layout and construction of abstract ornament in early Christian Irish sculpture’, in F. H. Thompson (ed.), Studies in Medieval Sculpture, London, Society of Antiquaries, 3–17.

Short Notes and Popular Articles

2016        Edwards, N., ‘Wales’, in C. Finney (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Early Christian Art and Archaeology, Grand Rapids, Michigan, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

2014        Edwards, N., Robinson, G. and Williams, H., ‘Llantysilio, The Pillar of Eliseg’, Archaeology in Wales, 53, 186–9.

2013        Edwards, N., ‘Wales after Rome’, Western Mail, 14 May 2013, 19–21.

2013        Edwards, N., Robinson, G. and Williams, H., ‘Llantysilio, The Pillar of Eliseg’, Archaeology in Wales, 52, 199–201.

2010–11  Edwards, N., Evans, D. M., Robinson, G. and Williams, H., ‘The Pillar of Eliseg, Llantysilio, incomplete inscribed cross and cairn’,  Archaeology in Wales, 50, 57–9.

2008        Edwards, N., ‘The Pillar of Eliseg’, in D. H. Evans, Valle Crucis Abbey, Pillar of Eliseg, Cadw guidebook, Cardiff, 53–6.

2006        Edwards, N., ‘Celtic crosses’ in J. Koch (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Celtic Culture and History, ABC Clio.

2006        Edwards, N. and Hall, M. A., ‘Protecting carved stones in Scotland and Wales’, Church Archaeology, 7–9, 127–9.

2004        Edwards, N. revised entry for ‘Sulien’, in H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison (eds), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000 (in association with the British Academy) Oxford University Press, Oxford.

1997        Edwards, N. ‘A Corpus of early-medieval inscribed stones and stone sculpture in Wales’, Archaeology in Wales, 37, 81.

1997        Edwards, N. and Hulse, T. G., ‘Gwytherin (Denbs.). A second fragment of Arch Gwenfrewi’, Archaeology in Wales, 37, 87–8.

1994        Edwards, N., ‘Holy wells in Wales and early Christian archaeology’, Source, the Holy Wells Journal, new ser. 1, 9–10. 1993               Edwards, N.  ‘A fragmentary stone crosshead from Llanfihangel Ysgeifiog, Anglesey’, Archaeology in Wales, 33, 65.

1993        Edwards, N. ‘A stone pillar from Capel Heilin, near Llangefni, Anglesey’, Archaeology in Wales, 33, 90.

1987        Edwards, N., ‘Bryn Gwylan inscribed stone’, Archaeology in Wales, 27, 58. 1984    Edwards, N. (ed.), ‘The archaeology of early medieval Wales: conference summary’, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 31, 319–20.

1984        Edwards, N., Notes on ‘A possible Viking grave from Benllech’, ‘Ynys Seiriol’ and ‘A motif piece from Aberglaslyn(?)’, Archaeology in Wales, 24, 60–1.

Excavation Reports

2015        Edwards, N., Robinson, G. and Williams, H., Excavations at the Pillar of Eliseg, Llangollen, 2010–2012 (Bangor University/University of Chester) – final report prepared for Cadw.

2012        Edwards, N., Robinson, G. and Williams, H., Excavations at the Pillar of Eliseg, Llangollen, 2012 (Bangor University/University of Chester)

2012        Edwards, N., Robinson, G. and Williams, H., Excavations at the Pillar of Eliseg, Llangollen, 2011 (Bangor University/University of Chester)

2010        Edwards, N., Robinson, G. and Williams, H., Excavations at the Pillar of Eliseg, Llangollen, 2010 (Bangor University/University of Chester)

Areas of Teaching & Supervision