Arable agriculture and social organisation : a study of crops and farming systems in Bronze Age Ireland
This thesis will present the results of an investigation into arable crops and farming systems of Bronze Age Ireland. Earlier studies have suggested that barley - particularly the naked variety - was the predominant crop of this period, with wheat playing a very minor role in farming economies. These studies relied heavily upon evidence from plant impressions on ceramic vessels. The research presented here will explore the production and consumption of crops in Bronze Age Ireland through the examination of an alternative dataset â the evidence from charred plant macro-remains recovered from archaeological excavations. Investigations are focused upon evidence from the Middle and Late Bronze Age in Ireland, due to a relative dearth of Early Bronze Age material. The collation and analysis of mainly unpublished data from more twenty sites provide a strong contrast to the evidence from the seed impressions record. Clear differences can also be observed when comparing data from the Middle and Late Bronze Age periods. Investigation of the types of contexts in which these remains were recorded has revealed new insights into deposition processes and activities at this time. Analysis of the arable weeds accompanying
McClatchie, Meriel
Arable agriculture and social organisation : a study of crops and farming systems in Bronze Age Ireland. This thesis will present the results of an investigation into arable crops and farming systems of Bronze Age Ireland. Earlier studies have suggested that barley - particularly the naked variety - was the predominant crop of this period, with wheat playing a very minor role in farming economies. These studies relied heavily upon evidence from plant impressions on ceramic vessels. The research presented here will explore the production and consumption of crops in Bronze Age Ireland through the examination of an alternative dataset â the evidence from charred plant macro-remains recovered from archaeological excavations. Investigations are focused upon evidence from the Middle and Late Bronze Age in Ireland, due to a relative dearth of Early Bronze Age material. The collation and analysis of mainly unpublished data from more twenty sites provide a strong contrast to the evidence from the seed impressions record. Clear differences can also be observed when comparing data from the Middle and Late Bronze Age periods. Investigation of the types of contexts in which these remains were recorded has revealed new insights into deposition processes and activities at this time. Analysis of the arable weeds accompanying
arable_agriculture social_organisation study crop farm_system bronze age ireland present_investigation arable crop farm_system bronze age ireland earlier study suggest barley particularly variety predominant crop period wheat play minor role farm economy study rely_heavily upon evidence plant impression ceramic_vessel present explore production_consumption crop bronze age ireland examination alternative dataset evidence char_plant macro remains recover_archaeological excavation focus_upon evidence middle_late bronze age ireland due relative dearth early_bronze_age material collation analysis mainly unpublished data twenty site provide strong contrast evidence seed impression record clear_difference also_observe compare data middle_late_bronze_age period investigation type context remain record reveal new_insight deposition process activity time analysis arable weed accompany