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Modern borders of all kinds, political, geographical and social,
effect the kinds of prehistoric narratives archaeologists can
write. Borders that dominate today did not exist in prehistory.
This volume works across such borders and focuses specifically on
the region between the Rivers Forth and Tyne, an area divided by
the modern political border between Scotland and England. The
introduction and opening chapters consider the impact of the
Anglo-Scots and similar borders on our understanding of prehistoric
patterns of activity. The introduction also asks whether, when, and
to what extent this could be considered a coherent region in the
prehistoric past. Further chapters explore the history of research
in the region, including field survey and aerial photography.
Another nine chapters discuss the results of recent research,
including new and older excavations, or conduct regional analyses
of artefacts and mortuary practices, starting with the Late Upper
Palaeolithic and continuing with studies from the Early Neolithic
through to the Late Iron Age. Taken as a whole, the publication
suggests that while there was no coherent Tyne-Forth region in
prehistory, except for perhaps in the Late Iron Age, research at
this regional scale provides a strong basis for appreciating past
cultural interaction at a variety of scales.
Eight sites were excavated along the route of the Aberdeen Western
Peripheral Route between Balmedy to Tipperty. The sites are mostly
multi-period. One site on the banks of the River Dee, revealed nine
phases of activity extending from the Upper Palaeolithic through to
the post-Medieval. Extensive specialist analysis has been
undertaken on all sites, along with a programme of radiocarbon
dating, OSL dating and Bayesian analysis. During the excavations,
it was apparent how the specific landscape of each site was key to
the activities taking place there, the periods and duration of
activity and the extent to which people were passing through or
settling. This was chosen as the overarching theme for analysis and
publication, and the geological and topographical background is
woven through the presentation of each site. Broadly speaking, the
landscape 'units' identified were the River Dee valley, the Dee-Don
uplands, a second upland zone around one specific site, the River
Don valley, and the coastal plains. In addition to the individual
site- evidence, a concluding chapter expands on three themes
highlighted through the work; Mobility (looking at the
temporary/permanent nature of interaction), 'Gaps' (periods of time
or parts of the landscape which seem unexpectedly blank and the
reasons for this), and Methodologies (looking at the specific
methods used to identify, test and excavate the sites and consider
learnings for future linear projects). Full versions of all
specialist reports, the original assessment reports and relevant
catalogues are provided digitally through ADS and cross-referenced
throughout the text.
Archaeological evidence for settlement and land use in early
medieval Scottish upland landscapes remains largely undiscovered.
This study records only the second excavation of one important and
distinctive house form, the Pitcarmicktype building, in the hills
of north-east Perth and Kinross. Excavation of seven turf buildings
at Lair in Glen Shee has confirmed the introduction of Pitcarmick
buildings in the early 7th century AD. Clusters of these at Lair,
and elsewhere in the hills, are interpreted as integrated,
spatially organised farm complexes comprising byre-houses and
outbuildings. Their form has more to do with contemporary
traditions across the North Sea than with local styles. There is a
close link between 7th-century climatic amelioration and their
spread across the hills, and it is argued that this was a
purposeful re-occupation of a neglected landscape. Pitcarmick
buildings were constructed and lived in by precocious,
knowledgeable, and prosperous farming communities. Pollen analysis
has shown the upland economy to have been arable as well as
pastoral, and comparable contemporary economic 'recovery' is
suggested from similar analyses across Scotland. The farms at Lair
were stable and productive until the 11th century when changes,
poorly understood, saw their demise.
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