A revision of the materiality of architecture : the significance of Neolithic long mound and chambered monument building practice, with particular reference to the Cotswold-Severn Group
My research is on the significance of building practice at sites that are known as chambered monuments or long cairns and long mounds. In particular, this work focuses on the long cairn sites of Gwernvale, Powys and Hazleton North, Gloucestershire; and the long mound sites of Easton Down, Beckhampton Road, Horslip, and South Street in the Avebury region of Wiltshire, and Gussage Cow Down 78 and 294 in Dorset. These sites are considered to be among the first 'architectures' in Britain. These architectures have been considered by archaeologists to characterise part of what we know about the neolithic in southern Britain. There are features and material culture associated with the mesolithic at these sites but this evidence has previously been understood as having made a 'place' for architecture, or as having created a 'setting' for later architectural constructions. I am writing to challenge our architectural understandings of these sites. In the following chapters trees, the processing of wood, hearth settings, the working of flint, grassland, worked earth, the processing of animal bone are recognised as having been a part of the connective dynamics of architectural construction. I will argue that material
McFadyen, Lesley
Chambered monuments ; long cairns ; long mounds ; building practices ; Prehistoric architecture ; Prehistoric Britain ; Neolithic Age ; Southern Britain ; material culture
A revision of the materiality of architecture : the significance of Neolithic long mound and chambered monument building practice, with particular reference to the Cotswold-Severn Group. My research is on the significance of building practice at sites that are known as chambered monuments or long cairns and long mounds. In particular, this work focuses on the long cairn sites of Gwernvale, Powys and Hazleton North, Gloucestershire; and the long mound sites of Easton Down, Beckhampton Road, Horslip, and South Street in the Avebury region of Wiltshire, and Gussage Cow Down 78 and 294 in Dorset. These sites are considered to be among the first 'architectures' in Britain. These architectures have been considered by archaeologists to characterise part of what we know about the neolithic in southern Britain. There are features and material culture associated with the mesolithic at these sites but this evidence has previously been understood as having made a 'place' for architecture, or as having created a 'setting' for later architectural constructions. I am writing to challenge our architectural understandings of these sites. In the following chapters trees, the processing of wood, hearth settings, the working of flint, grassland, worked earth, the processing of animal bone are recognised as having been a part of the connective dynamics of architectural construction. I will argue that material
revision materiality architecture significance neolithic long mound chamber monument building practice particular_reference severn group significance building practice site know monument long cairn long mound particular work focus long cairn site north gloucestershire long mound sit road south street region wiltshire dorset site consider among first britain architecture consider archaeologist characterise part know neolithic southern britain feature material_culture associate mesolithic site evidence previously understand make place architecture create setting later architectural construction write challenge architectural understanding site follow tree process wood hearth setting work flint grassland work earth process animal_bone recognise part connective dynamic architectural construction argue material