Commercialisation, change and continuity : an archaeological study of rural commercial practice in the Scottish Highlands
This is a study of the movement of cattle and grain out of the Scottish Highlands in the period before and during Improvement. It uses the combined approach of historical archaeology (archaeological, documentary and cartographic research) to focus on the growth and implications of commercial practice in a predominately rural region. The growth of the cattle trade is evidenced in archaeological terms by drove roads and associated structures such as cattle stances, enclosures, bothies and inns. The thesis studies two droving routes. One is through central Sutherland, and the other in Cowal and west Loch Lomondside. The case-studies trace the route of cattle towards distant markets outside of the Highlands, and record and analyse overnight stopping places along the way. The development of a trade in grain from certain low lying fertile areas of the Highlands is evidenced by the building of grain storehouses or âgirnalsâ which were related to jetties, anchorages and harbours from which the grain was exported. The thesis considers the archaeology of the grain trade in Easter Ross, and also in the southern Highlands. Practice is central to everyday life, and the practices associated with moving cattle and grain
Adamson, Donald Beck
CC Archaeology
Commercialisation, change and continuity : an archaeological study of rural commercial practice in the Scottish Highlands. This is a study of the movement of cattle and grain out of the Scottish Highlands in the period before and during Improvement. It uses the combined approach of historical archaeology (archaeological, documentary and cartographic research) to focus on the growth and implications of commercial practice in a predominately rural region. The growth of the cattle trade is evidenced in archaeological terms by drove roads and associated structures such as cattle stances, enclosures, bothies and inns. The thesis studies two droving routes. One is through central Sutherland, and the other in Cowal and west Loch Lomondside. The case-studies trace the route of cattle towards distant markets outside of the Highlands, and record and analyse overnight stopping places along the way. The development of a trade in grain from certain low lying fertile areas of the Highlands is evidenced by the building of grain storehouses or âgirnalsâ which were related to jetties, anchorages and harbours from which the grain was exported. The thesis considers the archaeology of the grain trade in Easter Ross, and also in the southern Highlands. Practice is central to everyday life, and the practices associated with moving cattle and grain
commercialisation change_continuity archaeological_study rural commercial practice scottish_highlands study movement cattle grain scottish_highlands period improvement combine historical archaeology archaeological_documentary cartographic focus growth implication commercial practice rural region growth cattle trade evidence archaeological term drive road associate structure cattle stance enclosure study route central sutherland west loch case_studies trace route cattle towards distant market outside highlands record analyse stop place along_way development trade grain certain low lie fertile area highlands evidence building grain related harbour grain export considers archaeology grain trade easter ross also southern highlands practice central everyday_life practice_associate move cattle grain