Constructing lordship in North Atlantic Europe : the archaeology of masonry mortars in the medieval and later buildings of the Scottish North Atlantic
This thesis investigates the archaeological potential of masonry mortars throughout North Atlantic Europe, with a particular focus on the buildings and environments of medieval northern and western Scotland. The results of an extensive non-intrusive survey of medieval and later buildings are presented, within which nine multiphase sites were subject to more comprehensive building, environment and materials analysis. The survey suggests that, in general, different mortar-making techniques had well-defined sub-regional distributions which are not simply a correlate of environmental availability, but developed in different ways over time. Moreover, all of the more comprehensively studied buildings contain evidence of striking material contrasts from phases to phase which has great potential in standing building analysis. Material contrasts in masonry evidence between building phases, between neighbouring buildings, between specific buildings and the regional corpus, and between the regions themselves, are then considered as evidence of changing cultural, chronological and environmental context. The relationship between secular and ecclesiastical buildings across the region is a particular concern. Qualitative
Thacker, Mark Anthony
medieval buildings ; lime mortar ; Northern Scotland ; medieval mortar ; North Atlantic Europe
Constructing lordship in North Atlantic Europe : the archaeology of masonry mortars in the medieval and later buildings of the Scottish North Atlantic. This thesis investigates the archaeological potential of masonry mortars throughout North Atlantic Europe, with a particular focus on the buildings and environments of medieval northern and western Scotland. The results of an extensive non-intrusive survey of medieval and later buildings are presented, within which nine multiphase sites were subject to more comprehensive building, environment and materials analysis. The survey suggests that, in general, different mortar-making techniques had well-defined sub-regional distributions which are not simply a correlate of environmental availability, but developed in different ways over time. Moreover, all of the more comprehensively studied buildings contain evidence of striking material contrasts from phases to phase which has great potential in standing building analysis. Material contrasts in masonry evidence between building phases, between neighbouring buildings, between specific buildings and the regional corpus, and between the regions themselves, are then considered as evidence of changing cultural, chronological and environmental context. The relationship between secular and ecclesiastical buildings across the region is a particular concern. Qualitative
constructing lordship north atlantic europe archaeology masonry mortar medieval later building scottish north_atlantic investigate archaeological potential masonry mortar throughout north atlantic europe particular_focus building environment medieval northern_western scotland extensive non intrusive survey medieval later building present within site subject comprehensive building environment material analysis survey suggest general different mortar making technique well_defined sub regional_distribution simply correlate environmental availability develop different_way time moreover comprehensively studied building contain evidence strike material contrast phase phase great_potential standing building analysis material contrast masonry evidence building phase neighbour building specific building regional corpus region consider evidence change cultural chronological environmental_context relationship secular_ecclesiastical building across_region particular concern qualitative