Later prehistoric and early historic settlement archaeology of the western seaways : a study of the western settlement record from Shetland to Brittany in the First Millennia BC and AD
Detailed scrutiny of the Iron Age settlement archaeology of the Atlantic coastal regions, from Shetland in the north to Brittany in the south, highlights the close connections made possible by the Western Seaways. From the Later Prehistoric to Early Historic periods these lands have been drawn towards similar expressions of identity and sequences of settlement development of varying intensity and duration. Discussions of individual site chronologies and taphonomic problems combined with analysis of architecture, site layout and, to a lesser extent, material assemblages across the area has allowed the definition of settlement development in each area across almost two thousand years. The Atlantic west offers a unique environment for the investigation of complex issues relating to settlement patterning as a result of its often remarkable archaeological preservation. These frameworks provide the opportunity to examine the extent of contacts along the Western Seaways in greater detail and over a longer timespan than has previously been attempted. Some site-types have always been used to infer connections between western areas as distant as Brittany and Shetland including 'promontory forts' and 'souterrains'. By
Gilmour, Simon M. D.
Later prehistoric and early historic settlement archaeology of the western seaways : a study of the western settlement record from Shetland to Brittany in the First Millennia BC and AD. Detailed scrutiny of the Iron Age settlement archaeology of the Atlantic coastal regions, from Shetland in the north to Brittany in the south, highlights the close connections made possible by the Western Seaways. From the Later Prehistoric to Early Historic periods these lands have been drawn towards similar expressions of identity and sequences of settlement development of varying intensity and duration. Discussions of individual site chronologies and taphonomic problems combined with analysis of architecture, site layout and, to a lesser extent, material assemblages across the area has allowed the definition of settlement development in each area across almost two thousand years. The Atlantic west offers a unique environment for the investigation of complex issues relating to settlement patterning as a result of its often remarkable archaeological preservation. These frameworks provide the opportunity to examine the extent of contacts along the Western Seaways in greater detail and over a longer timespan than has previously been attempted. Some site-types have always been used to infer connections between western areas as distant as Brittany and Shetland including 'promontory forts' and 'souterrains'. By
later_prehistoric early_historic settlement archaeology western study western settlement_record shetland first millennia detailed scrutiny iron_age_settlement archaeology atlantic coastal_region shetland north south highlight close_connection make_possible western later_prehistoric early_historic period land drawn towards similar expression_identity sequence settlement development vary intensity duration discussions individual_site chronology taphonomic problem combine analysis architecture site layout less_extent material assemblage across area allow definition settlement development area across atlantic west offer_unique environment investigation complex issue_relate settlement_pattern often remarkable archaeological preservation framework provide_opportunity examine_extent contact along western great_detail longer timespan previously_attempt site types always use_infer connection western area distant shetland include fort