A spatial analysis of Neolithic and Bronze Age burial sites in Northern Ireland
This thesis is a landscape analysis of Neolithic and Bronze Age burials in relation to both the landscape and other relevant archaeological sites, including other funerary monuments. This study aims to establish spatial trends in the positioning of the burial sites within the landscape, in order to establish if important natural resources influenced their location. It also examines the spatial relationship of the burial traditions in relation to each other and existing domestic and ritual sites in order to identify affinities, and to assess whether discrete funerary landscapes existed within the study area. GIS analysis was applied to the burial sites in order to obtain data on topographical aspects of the funerary landscape, which were analysed further for significant relationships. Cross-K analysis was also used to establish spatial relationships between datasets. Taphonomic issues and the representativeness of the archaeological data are examined to determine how valid the results are. The results from this analysis indicate that in some instances sites were influenced by the presence of certain resources, especially land quality. Concentrations of burial activity were also identified. Cross-K analysis
Brogan, Catriona
A spatial analysis of Neolithic and Bronze Age burial sites in Northern Ireland. This thesis is a landscape analysis of Neolithic and Bronze Age burials in relation to both the landscape and other relevant archaeological sites, including other funerary monuments. This study aims to establish spatial trends in the positioning of the burial sites within the landscape, in order to establish if important natural resources influenced their location. It also examines the spatial relationship of the burial traditions in relation to each other and existing domestic and ritual sites in order to identify affinities, and to assess whether discrete funerary landscapes existed within the study area. GIS analysis was applied to the burial sites in order to obtain data on topographical aspects of the funerary landscape, which were analysed further for significant relationships. Cross-K analysis was also used to establish spatial relationships between datasets. Taphonomic issues and the representativeness of the archaeological data are examined to determine how valid the results are. The results from this analysis indicate that in some instances sites were influenced by the presence of certain resources, especially land quality. Concentrations of burial activity were also identified. Cross-K analysis
spatial_analysis neolithic bronze age burial site northern_ireland landscape analysis neolithic bronze age burial relation landscape relevant_archaeological site_include funerary_monument study aim_establish spatial trend position burial_site within_landscape order_establish important natural_resource influence location also_examine spatial_relationship burial_tradition relation exist domestic ritual site order_identify affinity assess_whether discrete funerary landscape exist within study_area gis_analysis apply burial_site order_obtain data topographical aspect funerary landscape analyse significant relationship cross analysis also use establish spatial_relationship datasets taphonomic issue representativeness archaeological_data examine determine valid analysis_indicate instance sit influenced presence certain resource especially land quality burial activity also_identify cross analysis