The British early medieval period (c. AD 400 – 1066) was an era of migration and cultural contact that has been underexamined. This paper is a comparative study of the archaeological record of three English cities: York, Lincoln, and Southampton. Utilizing a theoretical framework combining anthropological and archaeological thoughts on space, place, and the structure and role of cities with theories of group identity formation and transformation, this project examines the role of the built environment within and near these urban sites. The project pays special attention to wic sites associated with York and Southampton.