Year: 1984
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This work is an examination of a large Iron Age cemetery which was \nexcavated by the writer at Wetwang Slack on the Yorkshire Wolds between \n1975 and 1979. \nThe chief features which make this site exceptional are the large number \nof inhumation burials involved (446), the unusually good stratigraphical \nevidence for the relative chronology of the cemetery, and the extensive \nremains of the contemporary settlement which the cemetery served. \nIn an introduction British Iron Age studies and the extent of \narchaeological research in the region are summarised to indicate the \nextent of knowledge at the time when excavations were underway. \nPart 1 describes the circumstances of excavation and the location of the \nsite, isolates the ditched enclosures and graves which were the principle \nconstituents of the cemetery, and details the types of burial which were \nencountered. \nIn Part 2 the evidence for a relative chronology of the cemetery is \nconsidered at length and from the stratification, the artifacts, and some \nchanging characteristics recognisable among the burials and enclosures \ndifferent chronological horizons can be recognised. Unlike artifacts \nfound on settlement sites those found in graves can reasonably be assumed \nto have been in use up until the time of their burial. For this reason \nthe cemetery provides a much needed guide to the relative date of \nartifacts, many of which are types with a widespread distribution. \nThe skeletal evidence is examined in Part 3 for evidence of physical \ntype, disease etc. and the data is searched for signs of social \norganisation. \nThe settlement evidence in the form of buildings, land boundaries and \ntrackways is described in Part 4 and the inter-relationship of burials \nand settlement is examined. Finally, the cultural affinities of the whole complex with the East \nYorkshire "Arras Culture" and other traditions of Iron Age Britain are \nsought and an interpretation is given which identifies population growth \nas a principle underlying cause of changes which took place in society, \nsettlement patterns and economy in the region during the Iron Age.
Author: John Strickland Dent
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1699809388