Holistic methodologies in the study of Scotland's early stone castles and landscapes (c.1050-c.1350 CE), with reference to the Earldom of Orkney and the Lordship of Galloway
The historiography of Scottish castles was dominated, until the 1960s, by great works which defined the field for generations of historians and archaeologists. Since then several major excavations, intensive wide-ranging fieldwork and most recently, targeted topographic surveys, have brought a new body of evidence to the discussion. Familiar themes, however, still dominate how castles are understood: the dichotomy between 'native' and 'newcomer', the debate over function and form, for example. This thesis brings to bear the new body of evidence alongside a specific focus on castles and their landscapes for the period of c.1050-c.1350. It begins, firstly, with an examination of the full body of castle sites and contemporary secular power centres, following the typology-oriented categorisation of sites by RCAHMS (now HES). Included in this are sites in the formal typology of crannogs, brochs and duns, which evidence suggests were occupied for some or all of the period under discussion. The 12th to 13th centuries demonstrated the peak of first phase of castle occupation. There is a resultant impact on what might be expected from landscapes of lordship, borne out in the second section of the thesis, the regional
Wyeth, William J. E.
castle ; Scotland ; medieval ; Orkney ; Galloway ; castle studies ; castles ; landscape ; castle landscapes ; landscapes ; middle ages ; RCAHMS ; HES ; Historic Environment Scotland ; buildings archaeology ; settlement ; Orkney (Scotland)-- Buildings, structures, etc. ; Historic Scotland ; Landscape archaeology--Scotland ; Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Holistic methodologies in the study of Scotland's early stone castles and landscapes (c.1050-c.1350 CE), with reference to the Earldom of Orkney and the Lordship of Galloway. The historiography of Scottish castles was dominated, until the 1960s, by great works which defined the field for generations of historians and archaeologists. Since then several major excavations, intensive wide-ranging fieldwork and most recently, targeted topographic surveys, have brought a new body of evidence to the discussion. Familiar themes, however, still dominate how castles are understood: the dichotomy between 'native' and 'newcomer', the debate over function and form, for example. This thesis brings to bear the new body of evidence alongside a specific focus on castles and their landscapes for the period of c.1050-c.1350. It begins, firstly, with an examination of the full body of castle sites and contemporary secular power centres, following the typology-oriented categorisation of sites by RCAHMS (now HES). Included in this are sites in the formal typology of crannogs, brochs and duns, which evidence suggests were occupied for some or all of the period under discussion. The 12th to 13th centuries demonstrated the peak of first phase of castle occupation. There is a resultant impact on what might be expected from landscapes of lordship, borne out in the second section of the thesis, the regional
holistic methodology study scotland early stone castle landscape reference earldom orkney lordship historiography scottish castle dominate great work define field generation historians archaeologist since several_major excavation intensive wide_ranging fieldwork recently target topographic survey bring_new body_evidence discussion familiar theme however_still dominate castle understood dichotomy native newcomer debate function form example brings bear new body_evidence alongside specific_focus castle landscape period_c begin firstly examination full body castle sites contemporary secular power centre follow typology oriented categorisation site included site formal typology brochs evidence suggests occupy period_discussion demonstrate peak first_phase castle occupation resultant impact might_expect landscape lordship borne second_section regional