Freshwater Scottish loch settlements of the late medieval and early modern periods : with particular reference to northern Stirlingshire, central and northern Perthshire, northern Angus, Loch Awe and Loch Lomond
Freshwater loch settlements were a feature of society, indeed the societies, which inhabited what we now call Scotland during the prehistoric and historic periods. Considerable research has been carried out into the prehistoric and early historic origins and role of artificial islands, commonly known as crannogs. However archaeologists and historians have paid little attention to either artificial islands, or loch settlements more generally, in the Late Medieval or Early Modern periods. This thesis attempts to open up the field by examining some of the physical, chorographic and other textual evidence for the role of settled freshwater natural, artificial and modified islands during these periods. It principally concentrates on areas of central Scotland but also considers the rest of the mainland. It also places the evidence in a broader British, Irish and European context. The results indicate that islands fulfilled a wide range of functions as secular and religious settlements. They were adopted by groups from different cultural backgrounds and provided those exercising lordship with the opportunity to exercise a degree of social detachment while providing a highly visible means of declaring their authority.
Shelley, Matthew James Hamilton
crannogs ; artificial islands ; lochs ; late medieval
Freshwater Scottish loch settlements of the late medieval and early modern periods : with particular reference to northern Stirlingshire, central and northern Perthshire, northern Angus, Loch Awe and Loch Lomond. Freshwater loch settlements were a feature of society, indeed the societies, which inhabited what we now call Scotland during the prehistoric and historic periods. Considerable research has been carried out into the prehistoric and early historic origins and role of artificial islands, commonly known as crannogs. However archaeologists and historians have paid little attention to either artificial islands, or loch settlements more generally, in the Late Medieval or Early Modern periods. This thesis attempts to open up the field by examining some of the physical, chorographic and other textual evidence for the role of settled freshwater natural, artificial and modified islands during these periods. It principally concentrates on areas of central Scotland but also considers the rest of the mainland. It also places the evidence in a broader British, Irish and European context. The results indicate that islands fulfilled a wide range of functions as secular and religious settlements. They were adopted by groups from different cultural backgrounds and provided those exercising lordship with the opportunity to exercise a degree of social detachment while providing a highly visible means of declaring their authority.
freshwater scottish loch settlement late_medieval early_modern_period particular_reference northern central northern northern loch loch freshwater loch settlement feature society indeed society inhabit call scotland prehistoric historic_period considerable carry prehistoric early historic origin role artificial island commonly_know however archaeologist historian_pay little_attention either artificial island loch settlement generally late_medieval early_modern_period attempt open_field examine physical textual_evidence role settle freshwater natural artificial modify island period principally concentrate area central scotland also_consider rest mainland also place evidence broad british irish european context indicate island fulfil wide_range function secular religious settlement adopt group different cultural_background provide exercise lordship opportunity exercise degree social detachment provide highly visible mean declare authority