The economic, social and environmental implications of faunal remains from the Bronze Age copper mines at Great Orme, North Wales
Metal mining sites are usually treated as only being able to inform about economic and social activities through remains directly linked to mining and smelting processes, such as ores, slags and residues. On the other hand, the investigation of faunal remains from British Bronze Age sites has largely been focussed on assemblages from midden deposits near large, well-documented earthwork structures, usually from southern or highland zones. There has been a failure to appreciate that there was a reflexive relationship between trade and exchange of metal, animal husbandry practices and social mobility and organisation. This thesis uses the faunal assemblage from the Great Orme Copper Mines to display the potential for learning and integrated study of this major resource area. A summary has been made of investigations into Bronze Age mining sites from the northern hemisphere to better understand the current situation with regard to assemblages and studies. The paucity of faunal remains, or studies thereof, from mining or other Early to Middle Bronze Age contexts within Britain highlights the significance of this study to the archaeological dataset for this period. The suitability of the site was tested by sieving
James, Sian Elizabeth
The economic, social and environmental implications of faunal remains from the Bronze Age copper mines at Great Orme, North Wales. Metal mining sites are usually treated as only being able to inform about economic and social activities through remains directly linked to mining and smelting processes, such as ores, slags and residues. On the other hand, the investigation of faunal remains from British Bronze Age sites has largely been focussed on assemblages from midden deposits near large, well-documented earthwork structures, usually from southern or highland zones. There has been a failure to appreciate that there was a reflexive relationship between trade and exchange of metal, animal husbandry practices and social mobility and organisation. This thesis uses the faunal assemblage from the Great Orme Copper Mines to display the potential for learning and integrated study of this major resource area. A summary has been made of investigations into Bronze Age mining sites from the northern hemisphere to better understand the current situation with regard to assemblages and studies. The paucity of faunal remains, or studies thereof, from mining or other Early to Middle Bronze Age contexts within Britain highlights the significance of this study to the archaeological dataset for this period. The suitability of the site was tested by sieving
economic_social environmental implication faunal_remains bronze_age copper mine great north_wales metal mining site usually treat able inform economic_social activity remain directly link mining smelt_process ore_slag residue hand investigation faunal_remain british bronze_age sit largely focussed assemblage midden deposit near large well_documented earthwork structure usually southern highland zone failure appreciate reflexive relationship trade_exchange metal animal_husbandry practice social_mobility organisation faunal_assemblage great copper display potential learning integrate study major resource area summary make investigation bronze_age mining site northern hemisphere well current_situation regard assemblages study paucity faunal_remain study thereof mine early_middle bronze_age context_within britain highlight_significance study archaeological dataset period suitability site test