| Summary: | This thesis is an interdisciplinary study of the material culture of Frankish daily life within the mainland Crusader states in the 12th and 13th centuries. It explores the role of material culture in aspects of Frankish identity, including items of personal adornment and dress accessories. These portable objects are discussed, along with ceramics and glass, in the context of material from Western Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition to the archaeological material, information from the written sources and the art produced in the Crusader states is examined. The role of Frankish identity in Crusader society is also discussed. This thesis is an attempt to begin integrating the material culture of daily life into broader discussions of Frankish identity. The key findings of the research can be summarised as follows: whilst creating and reproducing a distinctive group identity in relation to the cultures they encountered in the Levant, the archaeological evidence also demonstrates that Frankish identity articulated the shared experience of living in the Crusader kingdoms. As more material becomes available from excavations the conclusions from this thesis can be developed and expanded, adding further to our understanding of Frankish identity.
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