Of fish and men (de iasg agus dhaoine) : aspects of the utilisation of marine resources as recovered from selected Hebridean archaeological sites
This thesis attempts to interpret the exploitation and management of marine resources during later prehistory in the Western Isles of Scotland. Particular attention was focused on the analysis of the fish, mollusca and cetacean remains recovered during the excavation of the settlement of Bostadh Beach in Great Bernera, Lewis. Comparisons are made with fish bone assemblages recovered from other later prehistoric sites in the Western Isles. A key objective was the reconstruction of regional fishing practices particularly during the Iron Age and Norse periods. The main task was to try to demonstrate how marine resource exploitation was undertaken and to show how these resources may have been used. Archaeozoological and ethnoarchaeological methods of study were employed. The approach focused on five aspects of research: fish biology, modern fisheries, ancient fisheries, taphonomy and ethnography. The role of fishing during the Iron Age and Norse periods in this area of the Hebridean Islands is assessed, in terms of economic, social and technological factors. Fish biology and taphonomy provided the necessary association between modern and ancient fishing traditions. Taphonomy and ethnographical studies also linked
CeroÌn-Carrasco, Ruby N.
Of fish and men (de iasg agus dhaoine) : aspects of the utilisation of marine resources as recovered from selected Hebridean archaeological sites. This thesis attempts to interpret the exploitation and management of marine resources during later prehistory in the Western Isles of Scotland. Particular attention was focused on the analysis of the fish, mollusca and cetacean remains recovered during the excavation of the settlement of Bostadh Beach in Great Bernera, Lewis. Comparisons are made with fish bone assemblages recovered from other later prehistoric sites in the Western Isles. A key objective was the reconstruction of regional fishing practices particularly during the Iron Age and Norse periods. The main task was to try to demonstrate how marine resource exploitation was undertaken and to show how these resources may have been used. Archaeozoological and ethnoarchaeological methods of study were employed. The approach focused on five aspects of research: fish biology, modern fisheries, ancient fisheries, taphonomy and ethnography. The role of fishing during the Iron Age and Norse periods in this area of the Hebridean Islands is assessed, in terms of economic, social and technological factors. Fish biology and taphonomy provided the necessary association between modern and ancient fishing traditions. Taphonomy and ethnographical studies also linked
fish men aspect utilisation marine_resource recover select hebridean archaeological_site attempt_interpret exploitation management marine_resource later_prehistory western_isles_scotland particular_attention focus analysis fish remain recovered excavation settlement great lewis comparisons make fish bone_assemblage recover later_prehistoric site western_isles key objective reconstruction regional fishing practice particularly iron age norse period main task try marine_resource exploitation undertaken show resource may_use archaeozoological ethnoarchaeological methods study employ focused aspect fish biology modern fishery ancient fishery taphonomy ethnography role fish iron age norse period area hebridean islands assess term economic_social technological factor fish biology taphonomy provide_necessary association modern ancient fishing tradition taphonomy ethnographical study also link