Landscape evolution on the Lambourn Downs in the later prehistoric and Romano-British periods
This study examines land-use and settlement on the Lambourn Downs from the Bronze Age to the end of the Romano-British period. Earlier research in this region has presented a landscape history that is in contrast to elsewhere on the Wessex chalklands, and rather a land that grew organically over 2.5 millennia, the area is seen as one which was sporadically occupied, worked, and possibly abandoned. In the west of the region late Bronze Age linear ditches mark a major reorganization in the scale of the landscape, but only a small number of contemporary settlements are known, and field systems appear to be absent. This is followed by an apparent hiatus until the establishment of organised farming communities in the Romano-British period engaged in large-scale cereal production. In the east, Segsbury Camp is seen to signal the emergence of early Iron Age occupation into an area of previously unoccupied and unused land, with later settlement on the Downs continuing into the late Iron Age, but beyond this period little is known, and the fragmentary field systems in this region remain undated. It is proposed that these interpretations are illusory, created by large-scale Romano- British arable expansion in the west
Levick, Paula Susan
Landscape evolution on the Lambourn Downs in the later prehistoric and Romano-British periods. This study examines land-use and settlement on the Lambourn Downs from the Bronze Age to the end of the Romano-British period. Earlier research in this region has presented a landscape history that is in contrast to elsewhere on the Wessex chalklands, and rather a land that grew organically over 2.5 millennia, the area is seen as one which was sporadically occupied, worked, and possibly abandoned. In the west of the region late Bronze Age linear ditches mark a major reorganization in the scale of the landscape, but only a small number of contemporary settlements are known, and field systems appear to be absent. This is followed by an apparent hiatus until the establishment of organised farming communities in the Romano-British period engaged in large-scale cereal production. In the east, Segsbury Camp is seen to signal the emergence of early Iron Age occupation into an area of previously unoccupied and unused land, with later settlement on the Downs continuing into the late Iron Age, but beyond this period little is known, and the fragmentary field systems in this region remain undated. It is proposed that these interpretations are illusory, created by large-scale Romano- British arable expansion in the west
landscape_evolution later_prehistoric romano_british_period study examine land_use settlement bronze_age end romano_british_period earlier region present landscape_history contrast elsewhere wessex rather land grow area see occupy work possibly abandon west region late_bronze_age linear ditch mark major reorganization scale landscape small_number contemporary settlement know field_system appear absent follow apparent hiatus establishment organise farming_community romano_british_period engage large_scale cereal production east camp see signal emergence early iron_age occupation_area previously unused land later settlement continue late_iron_age beyond period little_known fragmentary field_system region remain undated propose interpretation illusory create large_scale romano british arable expansion west