5th December 2014, 01:27 PM
kevin wooldridge Wrote:I don't know of any written work on the subject, but there is a proliferation of neolithic sites in southern Norway around about the 50m contour line. I have often wondered if the location of these sites might represent the highest level at which certain types of field system/crop regimes were viable, with the higher and lower lands still reserved for hunter-gatherer activities....what kind of level are these sites appearing in Yorkshire and Durham?
Height above sea level doesn't seem to have much bearing, its the topographic relationship to water. Some seem to be in good 'lookout' locations (for passing game?) too, while others are near water but in sheltered spots such as valley-side terraces. The ones in Co Durham with the sea-views (only slightly spoilt by Easington Colliery in the foreground) were also overlooking a small coastal (freshwater) wetland area, but 150m above both - I know, I spent a month walking up and down that XXXX hill. Other considerations are apparent avoidance of contemporary monuments and high-level anticipation skills of where someone would want to put a barrow hundreds of years later - suspect the latter may in some instances go back to the 'look-out' thing, lines of sight work both ways and many EBA barrows are sighted for visibility.
Yup, definitely PhD territory, otherwise I'll end up having to do it
