Cultural Behaviour or Natural Processes?: A Review of Southern Britain Iron Age Skeletal Remains (BAR British)

This research focuses on the British Iron Age and challenging the current hypotheses of exposing the dead on five Iron Age sites in Hampshire and one from Dorset, England. Current theories are based on anthropological analogies and classical texts to understand and interpret the burial record. However, this research focused on understanding the formation of the burial record employing a new science-based methodology. This new approach is both integrated and multidisciplinary, combining the osteological and context taphonomic physical or material evidence to discern cultural behaviour from natural processes. The approach utilises a wide range of forensic anthropology and taphonomy, including l'anthropologie de terrain or archaeothanatology, to identify archaeological signatures from three key and interrelated areas: the remains, the deposition context, and the relationship between the corpse and its deposition circumstance. A new system of categorising Iron Age remains was developed to differentiate funerary and depositional behaviour between sites. Focuses On The British Iron Age And Challenging The Current Hypotheses Of Exposing The Dead On Five Iron Age Sites In Hampshire And One From Dorset, England. Current Theories Are Based On Anthropological Analogies And Classical Texts To Understand And Interpret The Burial Record. However, This Research Focused On Understanding The Formation Of The Burial Record Employing A New Science-based Methodology. This New Approach Is Both Integrated And Multidisciplinary, Combining The Osteological And Context Taphonomic Physical Or Material Evidence To Discern Cultural Behaviour From Natural Processes. The Approach Utilises A Wide Range Of Forensic Anthropology And Taphonomy, Including L'anthropologie De Terrain Or Archaeothanatology, To Identify Archaeological Signatures From Three Key And Interrelated Areas: The Remains, The Deposition Context, And The Relationship Between The Corpse And Its Deposition Circumstance. A New System Of Categorising Iron Age Remains Was Developed To Differentiate Funerary And Depositional Behaviour Between Sites. The Results Show That During The Iron Age Several Depositional Practices Can Be Observed: Intentional Exposure, Propitiatory Deposits And Intentional Practices Where The Body Was Kept Whole In Death, Which Ran In Parallel With Each Other.--abstract, Page Xi. Justine Tracey. Originally Presented As The Author's Thesis (ph. D.--university Of Reading, 2012). Includes Bibliographical References (pages 202-213). Content Chapter 1new Chapter 2x Chapter 3x Chapter 3 Archaeology, Forensic Taphonomy and Anthropology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Traditional Archaeology 3.3 Recording Iron Age Remains 3.4 Summary 3.5 New Approach and New Categories 3.6 Synergy and Integration Chapter 4x Chapter 5x Chapter 5 Results 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Micheldever Wood Banjo Enclosure 5.3 Danebury 5.4 Suddern Farm EIA-MIA (c.470-270BC) 5.5 Winklebury Hillfort c. 300-100BC 5.6 Maiden Castle Chapter 6x Chapter 7x Chapter 8x Chapter 8 Conclusions 8.1 Aims of the research 8.2 Objectives 8.3 Future work Appendix Bibliographyx Bibliography Front Cover Title Page Copyright Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF TABLES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Taphonomic Histories Chapter 3 Archaeology, Forensic Taphonomy and Anthropology Chapter 4 Materials and Methods Chapter 5 Results Chapter 6 Burial Contextual Evidence Chapter 7 Discussion Chapter 8 Conclusions Appendices Bibliography