Agricultural change in later prehistoric and Roman Britain
This thesis has the dual aim of examining the agriculture of the later prehistoric and Romano-British period and investigating the ways in which agricultural systems and agricultural change can be described and explained in an archaeological context. It is argued that a broader approach will enable more useful information to be extracted from the increasing volume of data available. An eight part framework is used as the basis for a discussion of some classes of evidence for agriculture. The framework encompasses socio-economic factors as well as aspects of agricultural practice. It is argued that an agricultural system is defined by its organisation as much as its practices, and that it can only be understood in its socio-economic context. Conversely, agriculture discussed in this way becomes a source of information on social, economic and political organisation. Patterns of change are identified, and it is suggested that the essentially static picture of later prehistoric agriculture prevalent in much of the literature is erroneous and hinders understanding. The areas of fertility maintenance and the organisation of land use are particularly emphasised. The use of historical and experimental data to estimate
Crosby, Victoria Mary
Archaeology
Agricultural change in later prehistoric and Roman Britain. This thesis has the dual aim of examining the agriculture of the later prehistoric and Romano-British period and investigating the ways in which agricultural systems and agricultural change can be described and explained in an archaeological context. It is argued that a broader approach will enable more useful information to be extracted from the increasing volume of data available. An eight part framework is used as the basis for a discussion of some classes of evidence for agriculture. The framework encompasses socio-economic factors as well as aspects of agricultural practice. It is argued that an agricultural system is defined by its organisation as much as its practices, and that it can only be understood in its socio-economic context. Conversely, agriculture discussed in this way becomes a source of information on social, economic and political organisation. Patterns of change are identified, and it is suggested that the essentially static picture of later prehistoric agriculture prevalent in much of the literature is erroneous and hinders understanding. The areas of fertility maintenance and the organisation of land use are particularly emphasised. The use of historical and experimental data to estimate
agricultural_change later_prehistoric roman_britain dual aim_examine agriculture later_prehistoric romano_british_period investigate_way agricultural_system agricultural_change describe explained archaeological_context argue broader enable useful information extract increase volume data_available part framework use_basis discussion class evidence agriculture framework encompass socio_economic factor well aspects agricultural_practice argue agricultural_system define organisation much practice understood socio_economic context conversely agriculture discuss way become source_information social_economic political_organisation patterns change identify suggest essentially static picture later_prehistoric agriculture prevalent much_literature erroneous hinders understand area fertility maintenance organisation land_use particularly emphasise use historical experimental_data estimate