Anthropic sediments on the Scottish North Atlantic seaboard : nature, versatility and value of midden
Traditionally archaeology has referred to the anthropic sediments accumulated around prehistoric settlements with the blanket term âmiddenâ. This is now recognised as an inadequate term to describe the complex formation processes and functions represented in these sediments. This thesis reviewed the body of evidence accumulated over the past century of research into Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements on the islands of the Scottish North Atlantic seaboard and extrapolated the many occurrences of âmiddenâ. Several contexts emerged for these sediments including interior floors, hearths, exterior occupational surfaces, dumped deposits, building construction materials and abandonment infill. In addition, âmiddenâ is described added to cultivated soils to form fertile anthrosols. The way in which prehistoric communities exploited this material for agriculture and construction has been described through geoarchaeological research which implied that to past communities âmiddenâ was a valuable resource. This led to the formation of a model based upon a human ecodynamics framework to hypothesise sediment formation pathways. Rescue excavation at the Links of Noltland, Westray provided an opportunity
Hamlet, Laura Elisabeth
Midden ; Anthropic Sediments ; Anthrosols ; Orkney ; Links of Noltland ; Neolithic ; Bronze Age ; Prehistory ; Archaeology ; Geoarchaeology ; Micromorphology ; SEM EDX ; Scanning Electron Microscopy ; Western Isles ; Hebrides ; Shetland ; Atlantic Ocean Coasts Scotland ; Western Isles (Scotland) ; Orkney (Scotland) ; Shetland (Scotland) ; Hebrides (Scotland) ; Archaeological geology ; Neolithic period ; Coasts Scotland ; Kitchen-middens ; Anthropic principle
Anthropic sediments on the Scottish North Atlantic seaboard : nature, versatility and value of midden. Traditionally archaeology has referred to the anthropic sediments accumulated around prehistoric settlements with the blanket term âmiddenâ. This is now recognised as an inadequate term to describe the complex formation processes and functions represented in these sediments. This thesis reviewed the body of evidence accumulated over the past century of research into Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements on the islands of the Scottish North Atlantic seaboard and extrapolated the many occurrences of âmiddenâ. Several contexts emerged for these sediments including interior floors, hearths, exterior occupational surfaces, dumped deposits, building construction materials and abandonment infill. In addition, âmiddenâ is described added to cultivated soils to form fertile anthrosols. The way in which prehistoric communities exploited this material for agriculture and construction has been described through geoarchaeological research which implied that to past communities âmiddenâ was a valuable resource. This led to the formation of a model based upon a human ecodynamics framework to hypothesise sediment formation pathways. Rescue excavation at the Links of Noltland, Westray provided an opportunity
anthropic sediment scottish north_atlantic seaboard nature value midden traditionally archaeology refer anthropic sediment accumulate around prehistoric_settlement blanket term midden recognise inadequate term describe complex formation_process function represent sediment review body_evidence accumulate neolithic_bronze_age settlements islands scottish north_atlantic seaboard extrapolate many occurrence midden several context emerge sediment include interior floor hearth exterior occupational surface deposit build construction material abandonment addition midden described add cultivated soil form fertile way prehistoric_community exploit material agriculture construction describe geoarchaeological implied past community midden valuable resource lead_formation model_base upon human framework hypothesise sediment formation pathway rescue excavation links westray provide_opportunity