The genesis of this volume was a conference co-organized at the University of York, U.K., in 2007 entitled "New Voices on Early Medieval Sculpture". Opinions voiced at this conference demonstrated quite clearly that the study of early medieval sculpture in Britain and Ireland is changing. New technologies and evidence (including that which contextualizes sculptural production and patronage), coupled with increased methodological awareness, is generating compelling new interpretations of the role(s) of public art in memorial contexts.