9th July 2013, 01:21 PM
I am sceptical about this project but also intrigued. I studied hillforts and enclosures in a small region in Scotland for my thesis and one of the issues was the very use of the word hillfort. It does say they are looking to challenge what a hillfort is but it doesn't specify if they will just focus on what are already classed as hillforts or whether they will discuss enclosures. If it is categorised as that in the classic sense, then does that mean 'enclosures' will be neglected altogether? They would probably need much longer to tackle that issue! I attempted to build a framework but found it tricky making sure that a. the dates were contextually sound and b. exactly where they were located stratigraphically so that I could distinguish as near as damnit when ditches had been created. I wish them luck in the research side of things but for someone to be trying to build a chronological framework for the whole of the UK just for a PhD, that again sounds like it could take much longer than 4 years.
Barkingdigger: I can think of several publications, mainly during the 70s (e.g. Forde-Johnstone, Hogg, Harding etc), on hillforts although an update would be interesting in terms of how their condition has deteriorated over the past thirty years. Dinosaur: someone did publish a gazzetteer of sorts, think it was something to do with their military characteristics - it was epic and I cannot remember the name of the guy who did it. There are regional studies as well but I can only think of ones in a Scottish context - Kokeza BAR and the RCAHMS surveys as examples. So a lot can be gleaned from publications as well as HER records. So it does seem strange that they are putting a call out to volunteers when surely the vast majority of info is available through the usual channels.
On the other hand, as someone who studied them for a few years, I say good luck to them. I like to see a bit more publicity about these rather enigmatic sites and its a good idea to get volunteers and community involved in their local heritage, but ideally it could be in a more structured way, rather than a generic shout out. The form seems a bit complicated and highly subjective as well so how much more information can be gleaned is again one to watch.
We shall see how it progresses!
Barkingdigger: I can think of several publications, mainly during the 70s (e.g. Forde-Johnstone, Hogg, Harding etc), on hillforts although an update would be interesting in terms of how their condition has deteriorated over the past thirty years. Dinosaur: someone did publish a gazzetteer of sorts, think it was something to do with their military characteristics - it was epic and I cannot remember the name of the guy who did it. There are regional studies as well but I can only think of ones in a Scottish context - Kokeza BAR and the RCAHMS surveys as examples. So a lot can be gleaned from publications as well as HER records. So it does seem strange that they are putting a call out to volunteers when surely the vast majority of info is available through the usual channels.
On the other hand, as someone who studied them for a few years, I say good luck to them. I like to see a bit more publicity about these rather enigmatic sites and its a good idea to get volunteers and community involved in their local heritage, but ideally it could be in a more structured way, rather than a generic shout out. The form seems a bit complicated and highly subjective as well so how much more information can be gleaned is again one to watch.
We shall see how it progresses!