The origin and function of the earthen long barrows of Northern Europe
The earthen long barrow of Northern Europe is one of many elements within a widespread tradition of large-scale monuments of funerary association witnessed in many regions of Europe throughout the Neolithic period. A considerable body of theoretical concepts has arisen from the various attempts to interpret the origins and use of these monuments The area of the North European Plain, diverse both geographically and environmentally, was inhabited by a variety of Late Mesolithic hunting and fishing communities, some of which achieved a considerable degree of economic stability. Contemporaneous events to the south of the Plain involved settlement by LBK groups and the introduction of a farming economy to the loess lands and similar environments in Central Europe. Prolonged contacts between these two economically and culturally diverse systems led ultimately to the adoption of a farming economy in Northern Europe, and with it to the emergence of a new cultural complex - the TvichterbeoherkuZtur. One of the characteristic manifestations of this culture was the development of a tradition of large funerary monuments - the earthen long barrows. These barrows have long been a source of interest to antiquarians and from
Midgley, Magdalena S.
European archaeology
The origin and function of the earthen long barrows of Northern Europe. The earthen long barrow of Northern Europe is one of many elements within a widespread tradition of large-scale monuments of funerary association witnessed in many regions of Europe throughout the Neolithic period. A considerable body of theoretical concepts has arisen from the various attempts to interpret the origins and use of these monuments The area of the North European Plain, diverse both geographically and environmentally, was inhabited by a variety of Late Mesolithic hunting and fishing communities, some of which achieved a considerable degree of economic stability. Contemporaneous events to the south of the Plain involved settlement by LBK groups and the introduction of a farming economy to the loess lands and similar environments in Central Europe. Prolonged contacts between these two economically and culturally diverse systems led ultimately to the adoption of a farming economy in Northern Europe, and with it to the emergence of a new cultural complex - the TvichterbeoherkuZtur. One of the characteristic manifestations of this culture was the development of a tradition of large funerary monuments - the earthen long barrows. These barrows have long been a source of interest to antiquarians and from
origin function earthen long barrows northern_europe earthen long_barrow northern_europe many element_within widespread tradition large_scale monument funerary association witness many region europe throughout neolithic_period considerable_body theoretical concept arise various attempt_interpret origin use monument area north european plain diverse geographically environmentally inhabit variety late_mesolithic hunt fishing community achieve considerable_degree economic stability contemporaneous event south plain involve settlement group introduction farm economy land similar environment central_europe prolonged contact economically culturally diverse system lead ultimately adoption farm economy northern_europe emergence_new cultural complex characteristic manifestation culture development tradition large funerary_monument earthen long_barrow barrow long source interest antiquarian