'Open-weave, close-knit' : archaeologies of identity in the later prehistoric landscape of East Yorkshire
This thesis is concerned with approaches to identity in archaeology, specifically the later prehistory of East Yorkshire, during the first millennium B. C. The region is characterised by a middle-late Iron Age square barrow burial rite, which has been interpreted as the product of the 'Arras' culture. It tackles the problem that identity has traditionally been understood as a social given (as part of an evolutionary process or an innate condition of a social group) that can be read from material remains. It argues that such models fail to make a critical enquiry into how identity is reproduced, with damaging social and political implications. In contrast, the thesis argues that identity is the project through which people come to know themselves as social beings, through the webs of their relations with others and the material world. Identity always takes work, and is constituted through that work. Archaeology therefore explores how identities were reproduced and mobilised over time, through an analysis of material fragments which are both the product and conditions of identity practice The thesis explores the contrasting character of practices of inhabitation from the later Bronze Age - late Iron Age (c.
Giles, Melanie C.
Iron Age; Barrow burials; Arras; Bronze; Rites
'Open-weave, close-knit' : archaeologies of identity in the later prehistoric landscape of East Yorkshire. This thesis is concerned with approaches to identity in archaeology, specifically the later prehistory of East Yorkshire, during the first millennium B. C. The region is characterised by a middle-late Iron Age square barrow burial rite, which has been interpreted as the product of the 'Arras' culture. It tackles the problem that identity has traditionally been understood as a social given (as part of an evolutionary process or an innate condition of a social group) that can be read from material remains. It argues that such models fail to make a critical enquiry into how identity is reproduced, with damaging social and political implications. In contrast, the thesis argues that identity is the project through which people come to know themselves as social beings, through the webs of their relations with others and the material world. Identity always takes work, and is constituted through that work. Archaeology therefore explores how identities were reproduced and mobilised over time, through an analysis of material fragments which are both the product and conditions of identity practice The thesis explores the contrasting character of practices of inhabitation from the later Bronze Age - late Iron Age (c.
open weave close_knit archaeology identity later_prehistoric landscape east_yorkshire concern approach identity archaeology specifically later_prehistory east_yorkshire first_millennium region characterise middle_late iron_age square barrow burial_rite interpreted product culture tackle_problem identity traditionally understood social give part evolutionary_process innate condition social_group read material remains argues model fail_make critical enquiry identity reproduce damage social_political implication contrast argue identity project people come_know social being relation_others material world identity always take work constituted work archaeology therefore explore identity reproduce mobilised time analysis material fragment product condition identity practice explore contrast character practice inhabitation