Neolithic rock-art in the north of Europe : structures, discourses and agency
Archaeology involves creating meaningful narratives of prehistoric societies, using only the remains of their material culture. This study focuses on Neolithic rock-art in two very different regions â JĂ€mtland (Northern Sweden) and Cumbria (North West England) â seeking to explore, directly, the âmeaningfulnessâ of this art. During the Neolithic period in Britain (c. 4000-2400 BC) and Northern Sweden (c. 4000-1800 BC), rocky outcrops were elaborated either by pecking abstract designs (Britain) or by carving and painting animal and human representations (Northern Sweden). Prehistoric rock-art in Britain and Scandinavia is usually understood and made âmeaningfulâ in relation to one, or a combination of, methodological approaches: it may be understood as part of the landscape (experienced through the human body (phenomenology)), or given meaning in light of ethnographic evidence. All of these approaches, however, ignore the subtle ways in which the rock-art itself was structured. The study, presented here, employed three methodological approaches in order to attempt to understand rock-art in a new and, arguably, more meaningful way. Firstly, a structure- based approach involved establishing the primary
Smith, Robert
DA Great Britain ; DL Northern Europe. Scandinavia
Neolithic rock-art in the north of Europe : structures, discourses and agency. Archaeology involves creating meaningful narratives of prehistoric societies, using only the remains of their material culture. This study focuses on Neolithic rock-art in two very different regions â JĂ€mtland (Northern Sweden) and Cumbria (North West England) â seeking to explore, directly, the âmeaningfulnessâ of this art. During the Neolithic period in Britain (c. 4000-2400 BC) and Northern Sweden (c. 4000-1800 BC), rocky outcrops were elaborated either by pecking abstract designs (Britain) or by carving and painting animal and human representations (Northern Sweden). Prehistoric rock-art in Britain and Scandinavia is usually understood and made âmeaningfulâ in relation to one, or a combination of, methodological approaches: it may be understood as part of the landscape (experienced through the human body (phenomenology)), or given meaning in light of ethnographic evidence. All of these approaches, however, ignore the subtle ways in which the rock-art itself was structured. The study, presented here, employed three methodological approaches in order to attempt to understand rock-art in a new and, arguably, more meaningful way. Firstly, a structure- based approach involved establishing the primary
neolithic rock_art north europe structure discourse agency archaeology involve create meaningful narrative prehistoric_society use remain material_culture study_focus neolithic rock_art two_different region cumbria north_west_england seek_explore directly meaningfulness art neolithic_period britain northern sweden elaborate either abstract design britain carve paint animal_human representation northern sweden prehistoric rock_art britain scandinavia usually understand make meaningful relation combination methodological_approach may_understand part landscape experienced human_body phenomenology give mean light ethnographic evidence approach however ignore subtle way rock_art structure study present employ methodological_approach order attempt rock_art new arguably meaningful way firstly structure base involved establish primary