The architecture of food : consumption and society in the Iron Age of Atlantic Scotland, with special reference to the site of Old Scatness, Shetland
Food is the foundation upon which societies are built. It is a means of survival, a source of wealth and prosperity and can be used as a means of social display. In Iron Age Atlantic Scotland, a wide range of food resources were open to exploitation. Among these, barley is likely to have been an important backbone to the system. Far from being at the mercy of the elements, the Iron Age population of Atlantic Scotland was able to extract surpluses of food from the landscape which could be manipulated for social, political and economic gain. One means through which this could be achieved is feasting, a practice considered significant elsewhere in the Iron Age. With such ideas at its core, this thesis examines the main arenas for consumption events in Iron Age Atlantic Scotland (dwellings) in detail, considering also the underpinnings of the system in terms of food production and accumulation, in particular the barley crop. The distribution of food processing and preparation between a dwelling and its associated ancillary buildings at Old Scatness provides insights into the organisation of life on the settlement.
Summers, John Richard
Northern Isles ; Archaeobotany ; Archaeology ; Economy ; Hearths ; Agriculture ; Feasting ; Social organisation ; Food ; Old Scatness, Shetland ; Iron Age
The architecture of food : consumption and society in the Iron Age of Atlantic Scotland, with special reference to the site of Old Scatness, Shetland. Food is the foundation upon which societies are built. It is a means of survival, a source of wealth and prosperity and can be used as a means of social display. In Iron Age Atlantic Scotland, a wide range of food resources were open to exploitation. Among these, barley is likely to have been an important backbone to the system. Far from being at the mercy of the elements, the Iron Age population of Atlantic Scotland was able to extract surpluses of food from the landscape which could be manipulated for social, political and economic gain. One means through which this could be achieved is feasting, a practice considered significant elsewhere in the Iron Age. With such ideas at its core, this thesis examines the main arenas for consumption events in Iron Age Atlantic Scotland (dwellings) in detail, considering also the underpinnings of the system in terms of food production and accumulation, in particular the barley crop. The distribution of food processing and preparation between a dwelling and its associated ancillary buildings at Old Scatness provides insights into the organisation of life on the settlement.
architecture food_consumption society iron age atlantic_scotland special_reference site old shetland food foundation upon society build mean survival source_wealth prosperity use mean social_display iron age atlantic_scotland wide_range food resource open exploitation among barley likely important backbone system far mercy element iron_age population atlantic_scotland able extract surplus food landscape could manipulate social_political_economic gain mean could_achieve feasting practice consider significant elsewhere iron_age idea core examine main arena consumption event iron age atlantic_scotland dwelling detail consider also underpinnings system term food_production accumulation particular barley crop distribution food processing preparation dwell associate ancillary building old provide_insight organisation life settlement