The design and distribution of stone circles in Britain : a reflection of variation in social organization in the second and third millennia BC
Stone circles are a diverse monument form which may well incorporate a complex palimpsest of sites of varying functions and dates. Multivariate analyses of their architectural variability provide the basis for a taxonomy which divide the data into 14 distinct types of stone circle. These are argued to form a base for further research which avoids many of the problems inherent in simplistic comparisons of stone circles as a whole. A corpus of stone circles has been compiled. The design, date and distribution of each stone circle class is examined. In addition, the controversial hypotheses instigated by Thom, on geometry, metrology and astronomical orientation, are reviewed and placed within the more general interpretive framework used here to define stone circle taxonomy. The other major theme presented here is an analysis of the distribution of the 14 stone circle types in relation to topography, settlement and other monuments. This highlights a diverse range of patterns which becomes apparent once differential survival rates are accounted for. At one extreme, 1n peripheral areas such as the Peak District's East Moors, are simple one to one correlations of field systems/ca1rnf1elds to small, similarly designed
Barnatt, John
The design and distribution of stone circles in Britain : a reflection of variation in social organization in the second and third millennia BC. Stone circles are a diverse monument form which may well incorporate a complex palimpsest of sites of varying functions and dates. Multivariate analyses of their architectural variability provide the basis for a taxonomy which divide the data into 14 distinct types of stone circle. These are argued to form a base for further research which avoids many of the problems inherent in simplistic comparisons of stone circles as a whole. A corpus of stone circles has been compiled. The design, date and distribution of each stone circle class is examined. In addition, the controversial hypotheses instigated by Thom, on geometry, metrology and astronomical orientation, are reviewed and placed within the more general interpretive framework used here to define stone circle taxonomy. The other major theme presented here is an analysis of the distribution of the 14 stone circle types in relation to topography, settlement and other monuments. This highlights a diverse range of patterns which becomes apparent once differential survival rates are accounted for. At one extreme, 1n peripheral areas such as the Peak District's East Moors, are simple one to one correlations of field systems/ca1rnf1elds to small, similarly designed
design distribution stone_circle britain reflection variation social_organization second_third millennium stone_circle diverse monument form may well incorporate complex palimpsest sit vary function date multivariate analyse architectural variability provide_basis taxonomy divide data distinct_type stone_circle argue form base avoids many problem_inherent simplistic comparison stone_circle whole corpus stone_circle compile design date distribution stone_circle class examine addition controversial hypothesis instigate geometry metrology astronomical orientation review place_within general interpretive_framework use define stone_circle taxonomy major_theme present_analysis distribution stone_circle type relation topography settlement monument highlight_diverse range pattern become_apparent differential survival rate account for extreme peripheral area peak_district east simple correlation field systems small org similarly design