Aligned with the past A study on the long-term emergence of lines and boundaries in the landscapes of Epe-Niersen, Oss and Boxmeer-Sterckwijck in the Netherlands, from the Late Neolithic until the Urnfield period Lisa van Luling Figure on front page: Schematic depiction of the barrow alignment and Celtic field at Epe-Niersen, Gelderland, NL (own rendition, after Brinkkemper and Wijngaarden- Bakker 2005, 508, fig. 22) Aligned with the past A study on the long-term emergence of lines and boundaries in the landscapes of Epe-Niersen, Oss and Boxmeer-Sterckwijck in the Netherlands, from the Late Neolithic until the Urnfield period Lisa van Luling BA, 1562797 [email protected] RMA Thesis Archaeology (1086THRS) Thesis supervisor: Prof.dr. D.R. Fontijn RMA Prehistoric Farming Communities in Europe Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology Warmond, July 1st 2020, final version 1 2 Table of contents Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................. 6 Part 1 - Introduction: Research aims, methods and theory ...................................... 7 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1. Research aim and questions ...........................................................................................10 1.2. Methodology ..........................................................................................................................13 1.2.1. The dataset ...................................................................................................................13 1.2.2. Approach .......................................................................................................................14 1.3. Outline .................................................................................................................................16 2. Theoretical framework ...............................................................................................................17 2.1. Løvschal’s theory: Succession of developments .....................................................17 2.1.1. Becoming boundaries ..............................................................................................18 2.1.2. Fixation and formalization.....................................................................................20 2.1.3. General sequence .......................................................................................................21 2.2. Referring to, appropriating, and respecting the past ...........................................23 2.3. Limitations and pitfalls .....................................................................................................24 Part II - Case studies .............................................................................................................. 26 3. Epe-Niersen and Vaassen ..........................................................................................................27 3.1. Introduction...........................................................................................................................27 3.2. Research history ..................................................................................................................29 3.3. The natural landscape .......................................................................................................30 3.4. The cultural landscape ......................................................................................................32 3.5. The funerary landscape ....................................................................................................33 3.5.1. The funerary landscape before the Urnfield period ....................................33 3.5.2. The funerary landscape Urnfield period ..........................................................40 3.5.3. The Celtic fields near Vaassen ..............................................................................47 3.6. Discussion...............................................................................................................................53 4. Oss-Zevenbergen and the barrow group of the Chieftain’s grave ............................60 4.1. Introduction...........................................................................................................................60 4.2. Research history ..................................................................................................................61 4.3. The natural landscape .......................................................................................................63 4.4. The cultural landscape ......................................................................................................65 4.5. The settlement landscape ................................................................................................66 3 4.6. The funerary landscape ....................................................................................................68 4.6.1. The funerary landscape before the Urnfield period in Oss- Zevenbergen....................................................................................................................................68 4.6.2. The funerary landscape of the Urnfield period in Oss-Zevenbergen ...76 4.6.3. The Chieftain’s barrow group ...............................................................................84 4.7. Discussion...............................................................................................................................88 5. The settlements of Oss-Ussen and Oss-North ...................................................................96 5.1. Research history ..................................................................................................................97 5.2. The natural landscape .......................................................................................................99 5.3. The settlement landscape ............................................................................................. 101 5.3.1. Bronze Age settlements ....................................................................................... 101 5.3.2. Early Iron Age settlements ................................................................................. 105 5.3.3. Fences from the Bronze Age and Iron Age ................................................... 108 5.4. Possible Celtic fields? ...................................................................................................... 109 5.5. Burials in the settlement landscape ......................................................................... 110 5.5.1. Middle Bronze Age ................................................................................................. 111 5.5.2. Early Iron Age........................................................................................................... 111 5.6. Discussion............................................................................................................................ 113 6. Boxmeer-Sterckwijck ............................................................................................................... 118 6.1. Introduction........................................................................................................................ 118 6.2. Research history ............................................................................................................... 120 6.3. The natural landscape .................................................................................................... 121 6.4. The cultural landscape ................................................................................................... 122 6.5. The settlement landscape ............................................................................................. 124 6.5.1. Bronze Age settlements ....................................................................................... 124 6.5.2. Iron Age settlements ............................................................................................. 128 6.6. The funerary landscape ................................................................................................. 138 6.6.1. The funerary landscape before the Urnfield period ................................. 140 6.6.2. The funerary landscape of the Urnfield period .......................................... 144 6.6.3. Chronology and continuity ................................................................................. 153 6.7. Discussion............................................................................................................................ 154 Part III - Discussion and conclusion .............................................................................. 162 7. Discussion ..................................................................................................................................... 163 4 7.1. Linear markers in a natural landscape: The effect of the of visual pre- Urnfield landscapes ....................................................................................................................... 163 7.1.1. Barrow lines along the natural landscape .................................................... 164 7.1.2. The effect of Late Neolithic and Bronze Age burial mounds ................ 166 7.2. Formalizing