Beakers and pre-existing monuments : aspects of ritual in Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain
This thesis is concerned with the nature of ritual practice during the Late Neolithic - Early Bronze Age periods in Britain. It has been suggested that a change from community to individual emphasis can be detected in the archaeological record. In order to delineate this change, an analysis of the 'ritual deposition' of beaker pottery on causewayed enclosure and hcnge monuments was undertaken, as it was considered that these deposits would potentially provide the best structured (both spatially and temporally) information. Part 1 considers the typology, chronology, and spatial distribution of beaker pottery. It is concluded that beakers can be divided into three groups: early, middle and late. These are distinguished typologically, and have statistical significance in both relative and absolute chronology. Further, they arc spatially segregated, forming bands of early and later types, with the early types having a markedly coastal distribution. Other contemporary artefact types are discussed, and broad chronological horizons are proposed. Part 2 begins with a discussion of the nature of ditch deposits on henge monuments and causewayed enclosures, in which the possible effects of activities such as cleaning,
Morton, Anna Elizabeth Whitmore
Beakers and pre-existing monuments : aspects of ritual in Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain. This thesis is concerned with the nature of ritual practice during the Late Neolithic - Early Bronze Age periods in Britain. It has been suggested that a change from community to individual emphasis can be detected in the archaeological record. In order to delineate this change, an analysis of the 'ritual deposition' of beaker pottery on causewayed enclosure and hcnge monuments was undertaken, as it was considered that these deposits would potentially provide the best structured (both spatially and temporally) information. Part 1 considers the typology, chronology, and spatial distribution of beaker pottery. It is concluded that beakers can be divided into three groups: early, middle and late. These are distinguished typologically, and have statistical significance in both relative and absolute chronology. Further, they arc spatially segregated, forming bands of early and later types, with the early types having a markedly coastal distribution. Other contemporary artefact types are discussed, and broad chronological horizons are proposed. Part 2 begins with a discussion of the nature of ditch deposits on henge monuments and causewayed enclosures, in which the possible effects of activities such as cleaning,
pre_existing monument aspect ritual concerned_nature ritual_practice late_neolithic early_bronze_age period britain suggested change community individual emphasis detect archaeological_record order delineate change analysis ritual deposition beaker pottery causewayed_enclosure monument undertaken consider deposit would potentially provide_best structure spatially temporally information part_considers typology_chronology spatial_distribution beaker pottery conclude beaker divide_three group early_middle late distinguish typologically statistical significance relative absolute_chronology arc spatially segregate form band early later type early type markedly coastal distribution contemporary artefact_type discuss broad chronological horizon propose part begin_discussion nature ditch deposit henge monument causewayed_enclosure possible effect activity cleaning