Contextualising the cropmark record : the timber monuments of the Neolithic of Scotland
Monuments of stone, earth and wood were built for the first time at the beginning of the Neolithic period in Scotland (4000 BC). While archaeological attention and investigation has focused upon monuments of stone and earth, those of timber have generally received much less attention and remain to be fully accepted and integrated into wider understandings of the Neolithic. This is despite a rich record of cropmark timber monuments held within the aerial archives of the National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS) and an increasing number of excavated timber monuments. This thesis is an attempt to remedy this imbalance. It examines all the evidence for timber monuments of Neolithic date currently recorded in Scotland, integrating those recorded as cropmarks with those uncovered during excavation and considers their place within the wider Neolithic repertoire. As the majority of timber monuments have been recorded as cropmarks, this thesis strives to move beyond cropmarks and the morphology of sites and argues that strict typologies serve to constrain the archaeological record. Instead a more contextual approach is taken whereby other factors, such as materialities or the use of space are taken into account.
Millican, Kirsty Margaret
CC Archaeology
Contextualising the cropmark record : the timber monuments of the Neolithic of Scotland. Monuments of stone, earth and wood were built for the first time at the beginning of the Neolithic period in Scotland (4000 BC). While archaeological attention and investigation has focused upon monuments of stone and earth, those of timber have generally received much less attention and remain to be fully accepted and integrated into wider understandings of the Neolithic. This is despite a rich record of cropmark timber monuments held within the aerial archives of the National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS) and an increasing number of excavated timber monuments. This thesis is an attempt to remedy this imbalance. It examines all the evidence for timber monuments of Neolithic date currently recorded in Scotland, integrating those recorded as cropmarks with those uncovered during excavation and considers their place within the wider Neolithic repertoire. As the majority of timber monuments have been recorded as cropmarks, this thesis strives to move beyond cropmarks and the morphology of sites and argues that strict typologies serve to constrain the archaeological record. Instead a more contextual approach is taken whereby other factors, such as materialities or the use of space are taken into account.
contextualising record timber monument neolithic scotland monuments stone earth wood build first_time begin neolithic_period scotland archaeological attention investigation focus_upon monument stone earth timber generally receive_much less_attention remain fully accept integrated wider understanding neolithic despite rich record timber monument hold within aerial archive national monuments record scotland increase_number excavate timber monument attempt_remedy imbalance examines evidence timber monument neolithic date currently record scotland integrate record cropmarks uncovered excavation considers place_within wide neolithic repertoire majority timber monument record cropmarks strives move_beyond cropmarks morphology site argues strict typology serve constrain archaeological_record instead contextual take whereby factor materiality use_space take_account