http://hdl.handle.net/1842/2624 2013-05-23T17:57:11Z 2013-05-23T17:57:11Z Geissler, Sabine http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6397 2012-09-13T14:23:26Z 2012-06-28T00:00:00Z

Title: Social significance of communal dining in Etruscan Italy from the seventh to the fourth century BC: an iconographical approach Authors: Geissler, Sabine Abstract: Imagery relating to communal dining or banqueting in ancient Etruria is relatively abundant and provides a useful source of potential information about the workings of Etruscan society, not least because of the semantic value of banquet scenes. The conduct of eating and drinking in company generally reflects patterns of social behavior, governed by local traditions, rules, ritual, beliefs and ideology embedded in society. In addition, banqueting or feasting may be closely interwoven with other social events, while rules of inclusion or exclusion may well come into play, thereby helping to reinforce or create social hierarchies. The depiction of a convivial scene alluding to experiences of communal dining is automatically a reference to these concepts, irrespective of whether an image represents a specific event or not. This thesis examines the iconography of banqueting in Etruscan Italy from the seventh to the fourth centuries BC. The analysis takes into account all types of Etruscan artefacts with banquet iconography. These include tomb paintings, scenes on vessels, mirrors or plaques once attached to buildings, grave stelae, sarcophagi and urns as well as sculptural representations made of ivory or bronze. The scenes are examined by considering a variety of visual elements that help to constitute a banquet. Theoretical perspectives and the defining elements of banquets are discussed in Part I. The latter are essential to the study because they were chosen to be included in representations and were evidently deemed important by the Etruscans themselves. By approaching the social practice of sharing food and drink through a systematic formal analysis of local iconography, many interesting questions, such as specific seating arrangements according to age and gender, can be explored. The ultimate aim of this thesis is to help us understand what constituted an Etruscan banquet from a study of its component parts, and what can be learned from banquet representations about the make-up and workings of Etruscan society.

2012-06-28T00:00:00Z Anderson, Catherine http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6286 2012-08-22T10:21:35Z 2012-06-28T00:00:00Z

Title: Weapons, warriors and warfare of Northern Britain, c. 1250 BC – 850 AD. Authors: Anderson, Catherine Abstract: This thesis focuses upon the material culture associated with warfare, conflict and inter-personal violence in northern Britain during the Late Bronze Age, Iron Age and Early Historic Period. Its aims are to understand the evolving role of warfare in society, who were the individuals engaging in conflict, what weapons were being used, and how were they being used. Although previous studies have touched on some of these topics, the material of northern Britain is frequently overlooked in favour of southern British data, and none consider the development of the topic over several time periods. Contextual data was collected on all the extant swords, spears and shields within the parameters, while a significant proportion were fully examined to enable more complex analysis. Evident opportunities and weaknesses within the resulting database were addressed and exploited, applying experimental archaeology to the bronze spearheads to investigate use patterns, and typological theory to the iron spearheads to enable meaningful inclusion. A range of additional sources of information, including iconographic, textual and osteological, were synthesised to facilitate a discussion of the life-cycles of the extant weapons themselves, and to address occasions when a gap appears in the archaeological record – as occurs during the Early Historic Period, where weaponry is almost absent, but other forms of evidence regularly reference conflict. Two particular conclusions of this thesis challenge traditional perceptions of both weapons and warriors; spears are found to be complex, both in use and social symbolism, rather than simplistic and low-status, and their integration into general discussions of weapons and warfare is a matter of urgency if the topic is to progress. The typological groupings of iron spearheads presented here is intended as a first step towards greater inclusion. The identity of combatants is also shown to be occasionally at odds with the traditional perception of the warrior, wherein reality and idealised social constructions diverge. This is not necessarily problematic, with the projection of warrior identities shown to be a deliberate vi choice, rather than a reflection of reality, the constraints and motivations behind such choices a fascinating topic for further work. Finally, the development of armed social conflict in northern Britain over two millenia, and the changing relationships and dominance between religion, display, consumption, social hierarchy and warfare, are presented through the manufacture, use, deposition and associations of the weapons in the database.

2012-06-28T00:00:00Z Thomas, Jayne-Leigh http://hdl.handle.net/1842/5982 2012-05-25T13:31:46Z 2011-11-22T00:00:00Z

Title: Late Bronze Age skeletal populations of Slovenia Authors: Thomas, Jayne-Leigh Abstract: Within the field of archaeology, cremation studies have the potential to provide important information regarding regional demography, pyre technology, burial rituals, and social rites. The development of recognized value and study of cremated remains has been stimulated by the establishment of proper methods of analysis and the increased awareness of the varying characteristics the bones exhibit after having been exposed to firing. During the Late Bronze Age, cremation was the principal method of disposing of deceased individuals throughout central and southern Europe. Three Urnfield Culture sites which had the most preserved material were selected for this study; from these sites, 169 individuals were selected for osteoarchaeological research. In addition to a standard osteological examination, cremation-related changes to the skeleton were studied such as temperature of firing, fracture patterns, element survival, and overall fragmentation and preservation. Demographics such as age and sex were established for each individual when possible and any animal bones present were acknowledged. This research is important because it is the first major osteological study done on cremated remains from Urnfield Culture sites in Slovenia. It is bringing to light new information on population demographics, the effectiveness of the cremation process during the time of the Urnfield Culture, and will supplement current research on the Late Bronze Age in Slovenia.

2011-11-22T00:00:00Z Dennis, Samantha Jo http://hdl.handle.net/1842/5803 2012-02-07T11:33:17Z 2009-11-25T00:00:00Z

Title: Use of experimental archaeology to examine and interpret Pre-Pottery Neolithic architecture: a case study of Beidha in southern Jordan Authors: Dennis, Samantha Jo Abstract: Many significant cultural transitions, including the beginnings of sedentism, domestication, and farming, are thought to have taken place during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) in southern Jordan. The settlement sites of this period (often referred to as the first villages) are rich in architectural remains, and this evidence is frequently used to support hypotheses on the degree of sedentism and how societies were structured. This research reexamines these issues through the construction, maintenance, destruction and decay of four experimental reconstructions built between 2001 and 2006 at the PPNB site of Beidha. The results of the experiments provide a more intimate understanding of PPNB architecture, including prehistoric construction methods and techniques, maintenance costs, spatial organisation, and post-abandonment events. The results also contributed to the conservation and presentation of early prehistoric sites to the public.

2009-11-25T00:00:00Z