Chapter 1 Introduction

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Chapter 1 Introduction Neolithic rock-art in the north of Europe; structures, discourses and agency Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy by Robert Ian Smith March 2015 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Index of Figures..........................vii Index of Tables..................................xi Index of Appendices...........................xii Acknowledgements..............................xiii Abstract................................................ xiv CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 1 The rock-art of Northern Europe in earlier prehistory ....................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Structure of research ............................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Regions ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Form ................................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Date .................................................................................................................................... 11 1.5 Comparison ........................................................................................................................ 14 1.6 Research aims .................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 20 A social history of Northern European rock-art ................................................................. 20 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 20 2.1 History of British rock-art research ................................................................................... 21 2.1.1 Origins of British rock-art analysis: Pre-twentieth century ........................................ 21 2.1.2 British rock-art research from 1900 to 1980 ............................................................... 22 2.1.3 Rock-art research since 1980 ...................................................................................... 22 2.2 Rock-art research in Scandinavia....................................................................................... 33 2.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 33 2.2.2 Scandinavian rock-art research pre-1900 .................................................................... 34 2.2.3 Rock-art research in Scandinavia from 1900 .............................................................. 36 2.2.4 Post-processualist and contemporary approaches ....................................................... 40 2.2.5 Structuralism ............................................................................................................... 40 2.2.6 Phenomenology ........................................................................................................... 44 2.2.7 Social interaction ......................................................................................................... 47 2.2.8 Landscapes and soundscapes ...................................................................................... 47 2.2.9 Anthropological ........................................................................................................... 50 2.2.10 Scandinavian rock-art summary ................................................................................ 53 2.3 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 55 2.4 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................ 56 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................... 59 Theory and methodology ....................................................................................................... 59 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 59 3.1 An archaeology of history and process .............................................................................. 61 3.1.1 Archaeology and the loss of meaning ......................................................................... 62 3.1.2 Deconstructing the nature of post-processualism ........................................................ 64 3.2 Meaning in archaeology ..................................................................................................... 69 3.2.1 Structuration ................................................................................................................ 71 3.2.2 ‘Power’ and its role in structuring social relations ...................................................... 74 iii 3.3 Approaching social structure through social systems ........................................................ 78 3.3.1 Rock-art dialogues....................................................................................................... 79 3.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 80 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 83 Cumbrian rock-art I .............................................................................................................. 83 4.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 83 4.1 Environmental and historical sub-contexts ........................................................................ 85 4.1.1 Environmental sub-context I: Cumbria before people ................................................ 85 4.1.2 Environmental sub-context II: Human-environment interaction ................................ 89 4.1.3 Historical sub-context; lithics and axe exchange ........................................................ 94 4.1.4 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 97 4.2. Rock-art sub-context: current interpretations of Cumbrian rock-art ................................ 98 4.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 98 4.2.2 Previous approaches to rock-art in Cumbria ............................................................... 98 4.2.3 Summary ................................................................................................................... 103 4.3 Cumbrian rock-art ............................................................................................................ 104 4.3.1 Natural origins of Cumbrian rock-art ........................................................................ 104 4.3.2 Quantitative analysis of Cumbrian rock-art .............................................................. 106 4.3.3 Quantitative analysis II: Eastern Cumbria ................................................................ 114 4.3.4 Comparison between the Central Fells/North Cumbrian region and the Eastern Cumbrian region ................................................................................................................. 118 4.3.5 Summary ................................................................................................................... 121 4.4 Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 123 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................. 126 Textualising rock-art of Neolithic Cumbria ...................................................................... 126 5.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 126 5.1 Creating an archaeological text ........................................................................................ 127 5.1.1 Discourse analysis, a modern approach to a Neolithic problem ............................... 128 5.1.2 Discourse analysis research methodology................................................................. 130 5.1.3 Critical discourse analysis ......................................................................................... 130 5.1.4 Discourse and intertextuality ..................................................................................... 132 5.2 Textualising rock-art of the Central Fells/North .............................................................. 134 5.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 134 5.2.2 Introduction to Patterdale sites .................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Hassuna Samarra Halaf
    arch 1600. archaeologies of the near east joukowsky institute for archaeology and the ancient world spring 2008 Emerging social complexities in Mesopotamia: the Chalcolithic in the Near East. February 20, 2008 Neolithic in the Near East: early sites of socialization “neolithic revolution”: domestication of wheat, barley, sheep, goat: early settled communities (ca 10,000 to 6000 BC) Mudding the world: Clay, mud and the technologies of everyday life in the prehistoric Near East • Pottery: associated with settled life: storage, serving, prestige pots, decorated and undecorated. • Figurines: objects of everyday, magical and cultic use. Ubiquitous for prehistoric societies especially. In clay and in stone. • Mud-brick as architectural material: Leads to more structured architectural constructions, perhaps more rectilinear spaces. • Tokens, hallow clay balls, tablets and early writing technologies: related to development o trade, tools of urban administration, increasing social complexity. • Architectural models: whose function is not quite obvious to us. Maybe apotropaic, maybe for sale purposes? “All objects of pottery… figments of potter’s will, fictions of his memory and imagination.” J. L. Myres 1923, quoted in Wengrow 1998: 783. What is culture in “culture history” (1920s-1960s) ? Archaeological culture = a bounded and binding ethnic/cultural unit within a defined geography and temporal/spatial “horizons”, uniformly and unambigously represented in the material culture, manifested by artifactual assemblage. pots=people? • “Do cultures actually
    [Show full text]
  • Durham E-Theses
    Durham E-Theses Neolithic and chalcolithic cultures in Turkish Thrace Erdogu, Burcin How to cite: Erdogu, Burcin (2001) Neolithic and chalcolithic cultures in Turkish Thrace, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3994/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk NEOLITHIC AND CHALCOLITHIC CULTURES IN TURKISH THRACE Burcin Erdogu Thesis Submitted for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. University of Durham Department of Archaeology 2001 Burcin Erdogu PhD Thesis NeoHthic and ChalcoHthic Cultures in Turkish Thrace ABSTRACT The subject of this thesis are the NeoHthic and ChalcoHthic cultures in Turkish Thrace. Turkish Thrace acts as a land bridge between the Balkans and Anatolia.
    [Show full text]
  • Jennings Ale 2Alt
    jennings 4 day ambleside ale trail Day 3 - langdale hotel, elterwater - wordsworth hotel, grasmere This is the peak bagging day of the trip. After leaving the Langdale Hotel the route heads out along the old tracks down Langdale to the hotel at the foot of Stickle Gill. From here a fairly stiff climb gives access to the dramatic crag ringed corrie occupied by Stickle Tarn. Unlikely as it might seem standing amongst all the towering crags there is a sneaky route to the surrounding summits from the tarn. It leads in zig-zags to the dip between Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark from where both peaks can easily be gained. The obvious diagonal line that cuts across the crags of Pavey Ark is Jack’s Rake which is a popular scramble. The rest of the crag provides top quality rock climbs. Having summited these two a big loop takes in Thunacar Knott and Sergeant Man, and then heads down, via Blea Rigg and Easedale Tarn, to the pastoral beauty of Grasmere and the welcome sight of the Wordsworth Hotel where a lovely, refreshing pint of Cumberland Ale awaits you! Before setting off please make sure you plot the suggested route on OS maps and pack a compass. They are essential for a safe, enjoyable day in the hills! Grade: Time/effort 3, Navigation 3, Technicality 3 stunning unrestricted views to the south out over Langdale and Start: Langdale Hotel, Elterwater GR NY326051 towards the giants of the Coniston Fells. The next of the ‘Pikes’ Finish: Wordsworth Hotel, Grasmere GR NY337074 is Thunacar Knott.
    [Show full text]
  • SSGMC – October Meet 2016 – Rydal Hall, the Lake District
    SSGMC – October meet 2016 – Rydal Hall, The Lake District Route: Rydal Hall, Grasmere, Stickle Tarn, Harrison Stickle, High Raise, Easedale Tarn, Grasmere Distance: 15.4 miles Conditions: Overcast with light rain, 9-13 degrees C, light winds. Clearing in the afternoon. Highlight: Ascent of Pavey Ark via Jakes Rake route. We stopped for some lunch on the shores of Stickle Tarn, from where Pavey Ark dominates the sky line and gives the impression of being a rocky ridge. With the mist and clouds hanging low the summit was only visible in fleeting glimpses as the wind carved open just a few small clearings. Pavey Ark is the largest cliff in the Langdales, looking eastwards its main face is just over a quarter of a mile across and it looms over Stickle Tarn some 625ft below. From Stickle Tarn there was a choice of routes and after a short debate we decided to take one of the most popular which was to follow a diagonal slit up the south-eastern face known as Jack's Rake. Jack's Rake is the most famous ascent of the Pavey Ark precipice. It is classified as a Grade 1 scramble (grade 3 being the highest), but it is within the capability of many walkers, though it does require a head for heights and is considerably harder in bad weather. The rake starts beneath the East Buttress at the precipice's eastern end, near a large cairn immediately north of Stickle Tarn, and then climbs west across the face of the crag. The rake follows a natural groove in the precipice face and is clearly indicated by several Ash trees.
    [Show full text]
  • New Dates for the Late Neolithic Corded Ware Culture Burials and Early Husbandry in the East Baltic Region
    Archaeofauna 16 (2007): 21-31 New dates for the Late Neolithic Corded Ware Culture burials and early husbandry in the East Baltic region LEMBI LÕUGAS1, AIVAR KRIISKA2 & LIINA MALDRE3 1 Institute of History, Tallinn University, Rüütli 6, EE10130 Tallinn, Estonia. e-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of History, Tartu University, Ülikooli 18, EE50090 Tartu, Estonia. 3 Institute of History, Tallinn University, Rüütli 6, EE10130 Tallinn, Estonia. (Received December 18, 2006; Revised April 10, 2007; Accepted April 16, 2007) ABSTRACT: The appearance of the Corded Ware Culture in the eastern Baltic area has been associated with the beginning of animal husbandry in this region. The culture is quite well re- presented by artefacts around the Baltic Sea basin, whereas its animal bone material seems to have been partly mixed with either that of the Combed Ware Culture, whose economy was based on hunting, fishing and gathering, or with later material. Radiocarbon dates have placed the beginning of the Corded Ware Culture in the eastern Baltic region in the time interval 3000- 2700 cal BC. New dates from Estonia confirm that the phenomenon appeared here at that time. The beginning of animal husbandry in the East Baltic is discussed on the basis of the new dates and the animal bone finds from Corded Ware Culture settlement sites and burials. Important fac- tors in the spreading of early farming in addition to climate, were geographical and environ- mental conditions. KEYWORDS: EAST BALTIC, ESTONIA, LATE NEOLITHIC, CORDED WARE CUL- TURE, DOMESTIC ANIMALS RESUMEN: La cultura de las cerámicas cordadas en el Báltico oriental se asocia con el inicio de la ganadería en la zona.
    [Show full text]
  • Visualizing Research
    Visualizing Research A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design Carole Gray and Julian Malins ASHGATE These methods are particularly useful if your own practice forms part of the research Vehicles for research: inventing new 'wheels' for artists and methodology. designers! Other methods described come from Social Science research, for example In the absence of an established and validated set of research methods in Art and www.sosig.ac.uk (accessed 15 August 2003); Denzin and Lincoln (1994); and some Design, we have had to be similarly adaptive and inventive; for example, a participatory specifically from educational research, for example Cohen and MaOion (1994), 3D 'game' as a means of externalizing teaching styles (Gray, 1988); experimental object McKernan (1998) . These are particularly relevant for human inqUIry related to Art and making in exploring issues of 'chance' and 'choice' in sculpture (Watson, 1992); site­ Design, for example the study of an individual's practice, and user feedback for deSIgned specific commissioned artworks for investigating the feasibility of architectural ceram­ roducts. In some circumstances, particular areas of deSIgn, for example Industnal ics (Wheeler, 1996); curation of a major exhibition on interactive art, and the ~eSign, a more scientific approach may be appropriate, in which case 'design methods' production of an interactive artwork in order to allow the audience/user direct experi­ may be useful. Documented examples of projects using design methods can be found In ence of the research concepts (Graham, 1997). Although these methods have been the journal Design Studies - www.elsevier.nl/locate/destud (accessed 16 June 2003).
    [Show full text]
  • Megaliths and Stelae in the Inner Basin of Tagus River: Santiago De Alcántara, Alconétar and Cañamero (Cáceres, Spain)
    MEGALITHS AND STELAE IN THE INNER BASIN OF TAGUS RIVER: SANTIAGO DE ALCÁNTARA, ALCONÉTAR AND CAÑAMERO (CÁCERES, SPAIN) Primitiva BUENO RAMIREZ, Rodrigo de BALBÍN BEHRMANN, Rosa BARROSO BERMEJO Área de Prehistoria de la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares Enrique CERRILLO CUENCA CSIC, Instituto de Arqueología de Mérida Antonio GONZALEZ CORDERO, Alicia PRADA GALLARDO Archaeologist Abstract: Several projects on the megalithic sites in the basin of the river Tagus contribute evidences on the close relation between stelae with engraved weapons and chronologically advanced megalithic graves. The importance of human images in the development of Iberian megalithic art supports an evolution of these contents toward pieces with engraved weapons which dating back to the 3rd millennium cal BC. From the analysis of the evidences reported by the whole geographical sector, this paper is also aimed at determining if the graphic resources used in these stelae express any kind of identity. Visible stelae in barrows and chambers from the 3rd millennium cal BC would be the images around which sepulchral areas were progressively added, thus constituting true ancestral references throughout the Bronze Age. Keywords: Chalcolithic, megalithic sites, identities, metallurgy, SW Iberian Peninsula INTRODUCTION individuals along a constant course (Bueno et al. 2007a, 2008a) from the ideology of the earliest farmers (Bueno The several works on megalithic stelae we have et al. 2007b) to, practically, the Iron Age (Bueno et al. developed so far shape a methodological and theoretical 2005a, 2010). The similarity observed between this long base of analysis aimed at proving a strong symbolic course and the line of megalithic art is the soundest implementation current throughout the 3rd millennium cal reference to include the symbolic universe of these BC in SW Iberian Peninsula (Bueno 1990, 1995: Bueno visible anthropomorphic references in the ideological et al.
    [Show full text]
  • ANTHROPOLOGY 4FF3 DIGGING the CITY: the ARCHAEOLOGY of URBANISM Fall 2021
    McMaster University, Department of Anthropology, ANTHROP 4FF3 ANTHROPOLOGY 4FF3 DIGGING THE CITY: THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF URBANISM Fall 2021 Instructor: Dr. Andy Roddick Email: [email protected] Live (Synchronous) Lecture: Office Hours: Held on zoom, set up via Wednesdays 8:30-11:20 am (Via Zoom) Calendly app on A2L Recording of these lectures posted by the end of day on Weds* Contents Course Description .......................................................................................................... 3 Course Objectives ........................................................................................................... 4 Required Materials and Texts ......................................................................................... 4 On-line Virtual Spaces ..................................................................................................... 4 Course Expectations and Requirements: ........................................................................ 5 Course Evaluation – Overview ........................................................................................ 5 Course Evaluation – Details ............................................................................................ 5 Weekly Course Schedule and Required Readings ......................................................... 7 Week 1 (January 13) Introductions .............................................................................. 7 Week 2 (January 20) Intellectual Foundations ............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Neolithic Farmers in Poland - a Study of Stable Isotopes in Human Bones and Teeth from Kichary Nowe in the South of Poland
    Neolithic farmers in Poland - A study of stable isotopes in human bones and teeth from Kichary Nowe in the south of Poland Master thesis in archaeological science Archaeological Research Laboratory Stockholm University Supervisors: Kerstin Lidén and Gunilla Eriksson Author: Staffan Lundmark Cover photo: Mandible from the Kichary Nowe site, photo taken by the author Abstract: The diet of the Stone Age cultures is a strong indicator to the social group, thus farmers and hunters can be distinguished through their diet. There is well-preserved and well excavated Polish skeletal material available for such a study but the material has not previously been subject to stable isotopes analyses and therefore the questions of diets has not been answered. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the cultures in the Kichary Nowe 2 area in the Lesser Poland district in southern Poland. Through analysis of the stable isotopes of Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulphur in the collagen of teeth and skeletal bones from the humans in the Kichary Nowe 2 grave-field and from bones from the fauna, coeval and from the same area, the study will establish whether there were any sharp changes of diets. The material from the grave-field comes from cultures with an established agricultural economy, where their cultural belonging has been anticipated from the burial context. The results from my study of stable isotopes from the bone material will be grouped by various parameters, culture, attribution to sex and age. The groups will then be compared to each other to investigate patterns within and between the groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Changing Paradigms in Southeast Asian Archaeology
    CHANGING PARADIGMS IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN ARCHAEOLOGY Joyce C. White Institute for Southeast Asian Archaeology and University of Pennsylvania Museum ABSTRACT (e.g., Tha Kae, Ban Mai Chaimongkol, Non Pa Wai, and In order for Southeast Asian archaeologists to effectively many other sites in central Thailand; but see White and engage with global archaeological discussions of the 21st Hamilton [in press] for progress on Ban Chiang). century, adoption of new paradigms is advocated. The But what I want to focus on here is our paradigmatic prevalent mid-twentieth century paradigm’s reliance on frameworks. Paradigms — that set of assumptions, con- essentialized frameworks and directional macro-views cepts, values, and practices that underlie an intellectual dis- should be replaced with a forward-facing, “emergent” cipline at particular points in time — matter. They matter paradigm and an emphasis on community-scale analyses partly because if we are parroting an out-of-date archaeo- in alignment with current trends in archaeological theory. logical agenda, we will miss out on three important things An example contrasting the early i&i pottery with early crucial for the vitality of the discipline of Southeast Asian copper-base metallurgy in Thailand illustrates how this archaeology in the long term. First is institutional support new perspective could approach prehistoric data. in terms of jobs. Second is resources. In both cases, appli- cants for jobs and grants need to be in tune with scholarly trends. Third, what interests me most in this paper, is our place in global archaeological discussions. Participating in INTRODUCTION global archaeological conversations, being a player in tune with the currents of the time, tends to assist in gaining in- When scholars reach the point in their careers that they are 1 stitutional support and resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Thacka Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, Penrith, Cumbria
    Thacka Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, Penrith, Cumbria Archaeological Trial Trenching Oxford Archaeology North October 2009 Environment Agency Issue No: 2009-10/992 OA North Job No: L10175 NGR (centred): NY 513303 Thacka Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, Penrith, Cumbria: Archaeological Trial Trenching 1 CONTENTS SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. 3 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Circumstances of Project................................................................................. 4 1.2 Location and Geology..................................................................................... 4 1.3 Historical and Archaeological Background...................................................... 5 2. METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Trial Trenches................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Finds............................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Environmental Assessment ............................................................................. 8 2.3 Archive..........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Research Design and Reports Bibliography & Glossary
    HANDOUT 1 — Research Design & Report Writing [11/2015] Suggested Reading & Glossary Anonymous 1992 Editorial Policy, Information for Authors, and Style Guide for American Antiquity and Latin American Antiquity. American Antiquity 57(4):749– 770. [on-line at http://www.saa.org/AbouttheSociety/Publications/ StyleGuide/tabid/984/Default.aspx] Bentley, R. Alexander, Herbert D. G. Maschner, and Christopher Chippindale 2008 Handbook of Archaeological Theories. AltaMira Press, Lanham, Maryland. Berger, Arthur Asa 2014 What Objects Mean: An Introduction to Material Culture. 2nd ed. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, California. Binford, Lewis R. 2001a Constructing Frames of Reference: An Analytical Method for Archaeological Theory Building Using Ethnographic and Environmental Data Sets. University of California Press, Berkeley. 2001b Where Do Research Problems Come From? American Antiquity 66(4):669–678. 2009 Debating Archaeology. Updated ed. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, California. Black, Stephen L., and Kevin Jolly 2003 Archaeology By Design. Archaeologist’s Toolkit Volume 1. Altamira Press, Walnut Creek, California. Burke, Heather, Claire Smith, and Larry J. Zimmerman 2009 Getting Your Results Out There: Writing, Publication, and Interpretation. In: The Archaeologist’s Field Handbook: North American Edition, Chapter Ten. AltaMira Press, Lanham, Maryland. 1 Chamberlin, Thomas C. 1890 The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses. Science (old series) 15:92– 96; reprinted 1965, Science 148:754–759. Clarke, David L. 1978 Analytical Archaeology. 2nd ed. Edited by Robert Chapman. Columbia University Press, New York. 1979 editor. Analytical Archaeologist: Collected Papers of David L. Clarke. Academic Press, New York. Cochrane, Ethan, and Andrew Gardner (editors) 2011 Evolutionary and Interpretive Archaeologies. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, California.
    [Show full text]