Early medieval social life centred around the Mead Hall institutionand the ceremonies which took place within its walls. This book summarises many years' research to provide a useful, readable guide to the archaeological remains and literary sources dealing with the sharing of food resources and the institutions which made this possible. Alongside quotations from Old English, Old Norse and other languages and their English translations, the author looks at the forms and meanings of the ceremonial occasions which took place in the Mead Halll.