Windows into the past : an investigation into prior activity at Neolithic monuments in Britain
This thesis investigates the nature of the buried ground surfaces beneath Neolithic long barrows and chambered tombs in Britain. Excavations at sites across the country have revealed the presence of pre-mound pits, postholes and artefact scatters on the preserved ground surfaces below the monuments, suggesting episodes of earlier human activity. These features offer tantalizing glimpses into Neolithic land-use, settlement, and burial practices, but until now, no systematic examination of this evidence has been undertaken. This study fills that gap by bringing together all of the available information on pre-monument Neolithic land surfaces for the first time, enabling a better understanding of the nature of the features, the frequency with which they occur, and their potential significance in terms of the importance of place and the persistence of significant landscapes in Neolithic Britain. Situated within the broader themes of landscape, memory and the significance of place, this thesis draws upon an extensive body of excavation reports and related literature to identify and record the extent and nature of the pre-monument evidence across the country. Two case studies place the evidence in a regional framework
Graf, Janice Carol
Windows into the past : an investigation into prior activity at Neolithic monuments in Britain. This thesis investigates the nature of the buried ground surfaces beneath Neolithic long barrows and chambered tombs in Britain. Excavations at sites across the country have revealed the presence of pre-mound pits, postholes and artefact scatters on the preserved ground surfaces below the monuments, suggesting episodes of earlier human activity. These features offer tantalizing glimpses into Neolithic land-use, settlement, and burial practices, but until now, no systematic examination of this evidence has been undertaken. This study fills that gap by bringing together all of the available information on pre-monument Neolithic land surfaces for the first time, enabling a better understanding of the nature of the features, the frequency with which they occur, and their potential significance in terms of the importance of place and the persistence of significant landscapes in Neolithic Britain. Situated within the broader themes of landscape, memory and the significance of place, this thesis draws upon an extensive body of excavation reports and related literature to identify and record the extent and nature of the pre-monument evidence across the country. Two case studies place the evidence in a regional framework
past investigation prior activity neolithic monument britain investigates nature bury ground surface beneath neolithic long barrows chamber tombs britain excavations site_across country reveal presence pre mound pit artefact scatter preserve ground surface monument suggest episode earlier human_activity feature offer glimpse neolithic land_use settlement burial_practice systematic_examination evidence undertaken study fill_gap bring_together available information pre monument neolithic land surface first_time enable well nature feature frequency occur potential significance term importance place persistence significant landscape neolithic britain situated within_broad theme landscape memory significance place draw_upon extensive body excavation_report related literature identify record extent_nature pre monument evidence across_country two_case study place evidence regional framework