Maritime archaeology on dry land : special sites along the coasts of Britain and Ireland from the first farmers to the Atlantic Bronze Age / Richard Bradley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bradley, Richard, 1946- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Coastal archaeology--Ireland.

Coastal archaeology.

Great Britain--Antiquities.

Great Britain.

Ireland--Antiquities.

Ireland.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (184 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Maritime Archaeology on Dry Land

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxbow Books, [2022]

Summary:

"This book is about two islands off the coast of Continental Europe, the seas that surrounded them, and the ways in which they were used over a period of three thousand years. Instead of the usual emphasis on finds in the intertidal zone, it focuses on parts of Britain and Ireland where traces of the prehistoric shoreline survive above sea level. It explores a series of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age sites which were investigated in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and have been largely forgotten. These places were very different from the Iron Age ports and harbours studied in recent years. How can we identify these special sites, and what are the best ways of interpreting them? The book considers the evidence for travel by sea between the settlement of the earliest farmers and the long distance movement of metalwork. It emphasises the distinctive archaeology of a series of coastal locations. Little of the information is familiar and some of the most useful evidence was recorded many years ago. It is supplemented by new studies of these places and the artefacts found there, as well as reconstructions of the prehistoric coastline. The book emphasises the important role of 'enclosed estuaries', which were both sheltered harbours and special places where artefacts were introduced by sea. Other items were made there and exchanged with local communities. It considers the role played by these places in the wider pattern of settlement and their relationship to major monuments. The book describes how the character of coastal sites changed in parallel with developments in maritime technology and trade. The main emphasis is on Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages uses of the seashore, but the archaeology of the Middle and Later Bronze Age provides a source of comparison"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Prelims

Part One The Sea, the Sea

Chapter One Fluid Dynamics: a brief introduction

Chapter Two Seas without ships

Part Two Landing Places

Chapter Three The riddle of the sands

Chapter Four Comparisons and complications

Part Three Ocean Terminals

Chapter Five Long distance

Chapter Six Coastal archaeology in perspective - a brief conclusion.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781789258219

1789258219

9781789258202

1789258200

OCLC:

1430658456