The Neolithic of the Irish Sea: Materiality and Traditions of PracticeVicki Cummings, Chris Fowler This collection of 24 papers aims to reconsider the nature and significance of the Irish Sea as an area of cultural interaction during the Neolithic period. The traditional character of work across this region has emphasised the existence of prehistoric contact, with sea routes criss-crossing between Ireland, the Isle of Man, Anglesey and the British mainland. A parallel course of investigation, however, has demonstrated that the British and Irish Neolithics were in many ways different, with distinct indigenous patterns of activity and social practices. The recent emphasis on regional studies has further produced evidence for parallel yet different processes of cultural change taking place throughout the British Isles as a whole. This volume brings together some of these regional perspectives and compares them across the Irish Sea area. The authors consider new ways to explain regional patterning in the use of material objects and relate them to past practices and social strategies. Were there practices that were shared across the Irish Sea area linking different styles of monuments and material culture, or were the media intrinsic to the message? The volume is based on papers presented at a conference held at the University of Manchester in 2002. |
Contents
some implications for the MesolithicNeolithic transition | 22 |
the quest for causewayed enclosures in the Irish | 37 |
Fluid horizons Aaron Watson | 55 |
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activity appear Archaeology architecture areas associated axes barrows bodies bone Bradley Britain British cairns Cambridge chambered circles communities connections considered construction contained context Cooney cremated culture Cummings Darvill dead deposition discussion distinctive distribution earlier early enclosures England evidence example excavation exchange Figure Fowler further graves groups Hill human identity images important interpretation Ireland Irish Sea island Isle Journal landscape late later living London Lynch Manx material material culture meaning megalithic monuments mountains movement natural Neolithic Oxford particular passage tomb past pattern perhaps period pits places possible pottery practice prehistoric present Proceedings production recent reference region relations relationship remains Scotland seen setting significance similar social Society south-west specific stone structures studies suggest Thomas tombs tradition understanding University Press volume Wales western