From tribes to kingdoms? : society and change in South-West Scotland, 0-600 AD
The prehistory and early history of Scotland have been the subject of academic interest since the antiquarian period, but most of this interest has been focused on the Eastern, Northern and Atlantic regions of Scotland. The South-West has not been the subject of any recent regional research efforts, despite the presence of contrasting sites such as Burnswark and Castle O'er, or extraordinary sites such as the Mote of Mark or Whithorn. This thesis aims to fill this gap by examining the available evidence from the Roman Iron Age and Early Historic periods for the region stretching, approximately, from Eastern Dumfriesshire to Northern Ayrshire. The evidence gathered is primarily archaeological, with a strong emphasis on landscape patterns and imported items. Because of the size of the region, the landscape was sampled using a 25% systematic grid pattern, with the sample unit coinciding with a single Ordnance Survey grid. Key excavated sites which did not fall into the pattern were also included, so as to analyse them within their landscape and situate them within regional patterns. In contrast, because of the limited amount of known items, imported objects from the entire study area have been considered. The
Turrini, Alessandra
archaeology ; Scotland ; social history ; Late Antiquity
From tribes to kingdoms? : society and change in South-West Scotland, 0-600 AD. The prehistory and early history of Scotland have been the subject of academic interest since the antiquarian period, but most of this interest has been focused on the Eastern, Northern and Atlantic regions of Scotland. The South-West has not been the subject of any recent regional research efforts, despite the presence of contrasting sites such as Burnswark and Castle O'er, or extraordinary sites such as the Mote of Mark or Whithorn. This thesis aims to fill this gap by examining the available evidence from the Roman Iron Age and Early Historic periods for the region stretching, approximately, from Eastern Dumfriesshire to Northern Ayrshire. The evidence gathered is primarily archaeological, with a strong emphasis on landscape patterns and imported items. Because of the size of the region, the landscape was sampled using a 25% systematic grid pattern, with the sample unit coinciding with a single Ordnance Survey grid. Key excavated sites which did not fall into the pattern were also included, so as to analyse them within their landscape and situate them within regional patterns. In contrast, because of the limited amount of known items, imported objects from the entire study area have been considered. The
tribe kingdom society change south_west scotland prehistory early_history scotland subject academic_interest since antiquarian period interest focus eastern northern atlantic region scotland south_west subject recent regional effort despite presence contrast site castle extraordinary site mark aim_fill gap_examine available_evidence roman iron age early_historic period region approximately eastern northern evidence_gather primarily archaeological strong emphasis landscape pattern import item size region landscape sample use systematic grid pattern sample unit coincide single ordnance survey grid key excavate_site fall pattern also_include analyse within_landscape situate_within regional_pattern contrast limited amount know item import object entire study_area consider