Complex assemblages, complex social structures : rural settlements in the Upper and Middle Thames Valley 100BC to AD100
Late Iron Age and Early Roman Britain has often been homogenised by models that focus on the resistance/assimilation dichotomy during the period of transition. The main objective of this thesis is to examine the rural settlements of this period through the lens of Cultural Theory in order to tease out the more nuanced and diverse human landscape that the material suggests. This approach begins to develop new ways of thinking about the variability observed in rural settlement from the end of the Middle Iron Age (MIA) to the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The selected study area is the Upper and Middle Thames Valley. The thesis uses the grid/group designations of Mary Douglas' Cultural Theory as a tool to produce a more multifaceted picture of the period, exploring the assemblages of these rural settlements to understand the nature of the socio-political structures of the region, beyond the anonymity of tribal affiliation and the faceless economical dichotomy of high and low status. The structure of the thesis is as follows: Chapter 2 summarises the state of play in the study of Late Iron Age and Early Roman Britain within the study area. The strengths and weakness of Cultural Theory, how it has been used
Morrison, Wendy A.
Archaeology--Methodology ; Landscape archaeology--England--Thames Valley ; Land settlement patterns--England--Thames Valley ; Prehistoric peoples--England--Thames Valley ; Thames Valley (England)--Antiquities ; Thames Valley (England)--Antiquities ; Roman
Complex assemblages, complex social structures : rural settlements in the Upper and Middle Thames Valley 100BC to AD100. Late Iron Age and Early Roman Britain has often been homogenised by models that focus on the resistance/assimilation dichotomy during the period of transition. The main objective of this thesis is to examine the rural settlements of this period through the lens of Cultural Theory in order to tease out the more nuanced and diverse human landscape that the material suggests. This approach begins to develop new ways of thinking about the variability observed in rural settlement from the end of the Middle Iron Age (MIA) to the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The selected study area is the Upper and Middle Thames Valley. The thesis uses the grid/group designations of Mary Douglas' Cultural Theory as a tool to produce a more multifaceted picture of the period, exploring the assemblages of these rural settlements to understand the nature of the socio-political structures of the region, beyond the anonymity of tribal affiliation and the faceless economical dichotomy of high and low status. The structure of the thesis is as follows: Chapter 2 summarises the state of play in the study of Late Iron Age and Early Roman Britain within the study area. The strengths and weakness of Cultural Theory, how it has been used
complex assemblage complex social_structure rural_settlement upper middle thames_valley britain often model focus resistance assimilation dichotomy period_transition main_objective examine rural_settlement period lens cultural theory order tease nuanced diverse human landscape material suggest begin_develop new_way think variability observe rural_settlement end middle_iron_age begin select study_area upper middle thames_valley use grid group designation mary douglas cultural theory tool produce multifaceted picture period explore assemblage rural_settlement nature socio_political structure region beyond anonymity tribal affiliation economical dichotomy high_low status structure follow summarises state play study britain within study_area strength_weakness cultural theory use