Iron Age pottery of northern and western mainland Scotland and the Small Isles during the Long Iron Age : typology and aspects of ceramic social narrative
The extensive collection of Iron Age pottery from antiquarian investigations of Atlantic Roundhouse sites in Caithness, Sutherland and the Small Isles (Inner Hebrides) provided an ideal opportunity to address several gaps in the academic understanding of pottery sequences outwith the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides). Until now no work of this kind for Caithness or Sutherland has been conducted, and the material culture of Skye and the Inner Hebrides has been subsumed largely into the broader sequences of their more westerly neighbours. The aim of the thesis is twofold. Firstly, to establish pottery sequences for three sub-regions of Atlantic Scotland; Northern Mainland, Western Mainland and Skye and Small Isles, using both antiquarian material and pottery from recent excavations. This comprises the first five chapters of the thesis. And secondly, within the following three chapters, utilizing two pieces of experimental research and a series of case studies, the author explores the social narrative of the ceramic assemblage, ultimately to better understand technological and cultural aspects of pot making and use.
McIlfatrick, Orlene
Iron Age Scotland ; pottery ; pottery sequences
Iron Age pottery of northern and western mainland Scotland and the Small Isles during the Long Iron Age : typology and aspects of ceramic social narrative. The extensive collection of Iron Age pottery from antiquarian investigations of Atlantic Roundhouse sites in Caithness, Sutherland and the Small Isles (Inner Hebrides) provided an ideal opportunity to address several gaps in the academic understanding of pottery sequences outwith the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides). Until now no work of this kind for Caithness or Sutherland has been conducted, and the material culture of Skye and the Inner Hebrides has been subsumed largely into the broader sequences of their more westerly neighbours. The aim of the thesis is twofold. Firstly, to establish pottery sequences for three sub-regions of Atlantic Scotland; Northern Mainland, Western Mainland and Skye and Small Isles, using both antiquarian material and pottery from recent excavations. This comprises the first five chapters of the thesis. And secondly, within the following three chapters, utilizing two pieces of experimental research and a series of case studies, the author explores the social narrative of the ceramic assemblage, ultimately to better understand technological and cultural aspects of pot making and use.
iron_age_pottery northern_western mainland_scotland small isles long iron_age typology aspect ceramic social narrative extensive collection iron_age_pottery antiquarian investigation atlantic roundhouse sit caithness sutherland small isles inner_hebrides provide_ideal opportunity address_several gap academic pottery_sequence outwith western_isles outer hebrides work kind caithness sutherland conduct material_culture skye inner_hebrides subsume largely broad sequence neighbour aim twofold firstly establish pottery_sequence sub atlantic_scotland northern mainland western mainland skye small isles use antiquarian material pottery recent_excavation comprises first thesis secondly within follow_three utilize piece experimental series_case study author explores social narrative ceramic_assemblage ultimately well technological_cultural aspect pot make_use