Interpreting Iron Age settlement landscapes of Wigtownshire
This thesis explores the process of archaeological interpretation by considering how we can interpret the Iron Age settlement in Wigtownshire, SW Scotland. Traditional images of Iron Age warfaring hierarchical societies have persisted through the use of well-established classifications, such as âfortâ or âroundhouseâ and by the uncritical acceptance of the definition and identification of âsettlementâ in the archaeological record. Alternative interpretations of Iron Age settlement landscapes are possible by considering a variety of other observations, which traditional classifications ignore, such as the landscape context of specific monuments. This thesis presents a critical review of these alternative interpretations and other more traditional classifications used to define Iron Age settlement and illustrates how multiple narratives of the past can co-exist. This thesis emphasises the essential part classification plays in archaeological interpretation. Interpretation is a complex and ongoing process and it is important to be aware of the assumptions that we make and how these may affect further interpretations of the archaeological evidence. Common standardised classifications stress the importance
Poller, Tessa
D051 Ancient History ; DA Great Britain ; CC Archaeology
Interpreting Iron Age settlement landscapes of Wigtownshire. This thesis explores the process of archaeological interpretation by considering how we can interpret the Iron Age settlement in Wigtownshire, SW Scotland. Traditional images of Iron Age warfaring hierarchical societies have persisted through the use of well-established classifications, such as âfortâ or âroundhouseâ and by the uncritical acceptance of the definition and identification of âsettlementâ in the archaeological record. Alternative interpretations of Iron Age settlement landscapes are possible by considering a variety of other observations, which traditional classifications ignore, such as the landscape context of specific monuments. This thesis presents a critical review of these alternative interpretations and other more traditional classifications used to define Iron Age settlement and illustrates how multiple narratives of the past can co-exist. This thesis emphasises the essential part classification plays in archaeological interpretation. Interpretation is a complex and ongoing process and it is important to be aware of the assumptions that we make and how these may affect further interpretations of the archaeological evidence. Common standardised classifications stress the importance
interpreting iron_age_settlement landscape explores process archaeological_interpretation consider interpret iron_age_settlement scotland traditional image iron_age hierarchical society persist use well_established classification fort roundhouse uncritical acceptance definition identification settlement archaeological_record alternative_interpretation iron_age_settlement landscape possible consider variety observation traditional_classification ignore landscape_context specific monument present critical_review alternative_interpretation traditional_classification use define iron_age_settlement illustrate multiple narrative past exist emphasis essential_part classification play archaeological_interpretation interpretation complex ongoing process important aware assumption_make may_affect interpretation archaeological_evidence common standardise classification stress_importance