Middle and Late Bronze Age settlement on the South Downs : the case study of Black Patch
By integrating the corpus of existing knowledge with new information gained by applying geo-archaeological techniques as well as more traditional techniques to fresh archaeological investigations at Black Patch and elsewhere, the aims of the research are to look at the economy, social organization and ritual behaviour of life in the Middle and Late Bronze Age on the South Downs in the light of modern archaeological theory to consider the questions âWhy were these areas chosen for settlement?', âWhat caused their abandonment?' and âWhat can we learn about the life of the people associated with the settlements?'. The combination of field walking, field survey and soil sampling has shown the presence of a Neolithic flint spread, woodland clearance and agriculture before and during the period of site settlement at Black Patch. The positioning of the Hut platforms and enclosures across existing lynchets, the modification of the existing field system, the establishment of a new one and the adoption of more intensive farming techniques (manuring, weeding and crop location and rotation) would imply a change of social order and the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle for some. The existence of centrally placed
Tapper, Richard Quinn
CC Archaeology ; G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
Middle and Late Bronze Age settlement on the South Downs : the case study of Black Patch. By integrating the corpus of existing knowledge with new information gained by applying geo-archaeological techniques as well as more traditional techniques to fresh archaeological investigations at Black Patch and elsewhere, the aims of the research are to look at the economy, social organization and ritual behaviour of life in the Middle and Late Bronze Age on the South Downs in the light of modern archaeological theory to consider the questions âWhy were these areas chosen for settlement?', âWhat caused their abandonment?' and âWhat can we learn about the life of the people associated with the settlements?'. The combination of field walking, field survey and soil sampling has shown the presence of a Neolithic flint spread, woodland clearance and agriculture before and during the period of site settlement at Black Patch. The positioning of the Hut platforms and enclosures across existing lynchets, the modification of the existing field system, the establishment of a new one and the adoption of more intensive farming techniques (manuring, weeding and crop location and rotation) would imply a change of social order and the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle for some. The existence of centrally placed
middle_late_bronze_age settlement south case_study black integrate corpus exist_knowledge new_information gain apply geo archaeological technique well traditional technique fresh archaeological_investigation black elsewhere aim look economy social_organization ritual behaviour life middle_late_bronze_age south light_modern archaeological_theory consider question area_choose settlement cause abandonment learn life people associate settlement combination field walking field_survey soil sample show presence neolithic flint spread woodland clearance agriculture period site settlement black positioning hut enclosure across exist modification exist field_system establishment_new adoption intensive farm technique weed crop location would imply change social_order adoption sedentary lifestyle some existence centrally place