Over the ditch and far away : investigating Broxmouth and the landscape of South-East Scotland during the later prehistoric period
Hillforts have dominated interpretations of later prehistoric society, but these have been based on an uncritical acceptance of their military or symbolic role and a âbig is bestâ mentality. Using the exceptional archive from Broxmouth hillfort in East Lothian, the research presented in this thesis had the unique opportunity to examine the boundaries of that site in detail. Drawing on ideas that sites should not just be seen in their final form, episodes of enclosure creation, maintenance and abandonment are examined. Constructing a biography of Broxmouth has highlighted the relative infrequency of these creation events and how social relationships were intimately tied to the enclosure boundaries. These events are not isolated and investigating the contemporary landscape has shown that the coastal plain would have been densely settled, yet the bleak hills of the Lammermuirs appear to have been avoided. Mapping old routeways and pit alignments shows that this landscape may have been a draw for the practice of transhumance, primarily for sheep and cattle as demonstrated in the Broxmouth evidence. Combining GIS analyses with more experiential approaches, shows how some sites took advantage of the topographical
Reader, Rachael
Archaeology; Later prehistory; Broxmouth, South-East Scotland; GIS; Landscape
Over the ditch and far away : investigating Broxmouth and the landscape of South-East Scotland during the later prehistoric period. Hillforts have dominated interpretations of later prehistoric society, but these have been based on an uncritical acceptance of their military or symbolic role and a âbig is bestâ mentality. Using the exceptional archive from Broxmouth hillfort in East Lothian, the research presented in this thesis had the unique opportunity to examine the boundaries of that site in detail. Drawing on ideas that sites should not just be seen in their final form, episodes of enclosure creation, maintenance and abandonment are examined. Constructing a biography of Broxmouth has highlighted the relative infrequency of these creation events and how social relationships were intimately tied to the enclosure boundaries. These events are not isolated and investigating the contemporary landscape has shown that the coastal plain would have been densely settled, yet the bleak hills of the Lammermuirs appear to have been avoided. Mapping old routeways and pit alignments shows that this landscape may have been a draw for the practice of transhumance, primarily for sheep and cattle as demonstrated in the Broxmouth evidence. Combining GIS analyses with more experiential approaches, shows how some sites took advantage of the topographical
ditch far away investigate landscape south_east scotland later_prehistoric period hillforts dominate interpretation later_prehistoric society base uncritical acceptance military symbolic_role big best mentality using exceptional archive hillfort east_lothian present_unique opportunity examine boundary site detail drawing idea sit see final_form episodes enclosure creation_maintenance abandonment examine constructing biography highlight relative creation event social_relationship intimately tie enclosure boundary event isolate investigate contemporary_landscape show coastal plain would densely settle yet hill appear avoid mapping old pit alignment show landscape may draw practice transhumance primarily sheep cattle demonstrate evidence combining gis analyse experiential approach show site take_advantage topographical