Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-ph5wq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-17T20:09:21.146Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Settlement Duration and Materiality: Formal Chronological Models for the Development of Barnhouse, a Grooved Ware Settlement in Orkney

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2016

Colin Richards
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, School of Arts, Languages & Culture, Univeristy of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PLUK
Andrew Meirion Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJUK
Ann MacSween
Affiliation:
Historic Environment Scotland, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SHUK
Alison Sheridan
Affiliation:
National Museums Scotland, Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Elaine Dunbar
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QFUK
Paula Reimer
Affiliation:
School of Geography, Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NNUK
Alex Bayliss
Affiliation:
Historic England, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138–142 Holborn, London, EC1N 2STUK
Seren Griffiths
Affiliation:
Department of History, Politics and Philosophy, Manchester Metropolitan University, Rosamond Street West, Off Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6LLUK
Alasdair Whittle
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology and Conservation, Cardiff University, John Percival Building, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU Email: whittle@cardiff.ac.uk

Abstract

Radiocarbon dating and Bayesian chronological modelling, undertaken as part of the investigation by the Times of Their Lives project into the development of Late Neolithic settlement and pottery in Orkney, has provided precise new dating for the Grooved Ware settlement of Barnhouse, excavated in 1985–91. Previous understandings of the site and its pottery are presented. A Bayesian model based on 70 measurements on 62 samples (of which 50 samples are thought to date accurately the deposits from which they were recovered) suggests that the settlement probably began in the later 32nd century cal bc (with Houses 2, 9, 3 and perhaps 5a), possibly as a planned foundation. Structure 8 – a large, monumental structure that differs in character from the houses – was probably built just after the turn of the millennium. Varied house durations and replacements are estimated. House 2 went out of use before the end of the settlement, and Structure 8 was probably the last element to be abandoned, probably during the earlier 29th century cal bc. The Grooved Ware pottery from the site is characterised by small, medium-sized, and large vessels with incised and impressed decoration, including a distinctive, false-relief, wavy-line cordon motif. A considerable degree of consistency is apparent in many aspects of ceramic design and manufacture over the use-life of the settlement, the principal change being the appearance, from c. 3025–2975 cal bc, of large coarse ware vessels with uneven surfaces and thick applied cordons, and of the use of applied dimpled circular pellets. The circumstances of new foundation of settlement in the western part of Mainland are discussed, as well as the maintenance and character of the site. The pottery from the site is among the earliest Grooved Ware so far dated. Its wider connections are noted, as well as the significant implications for our understanding of the timing and circumstances of the emergence of Grooved Ware, and the role of material culture in social strategies.

Résumé

Durée d’occupation et matérialité: Modèles chronologiques formels pour le développement de Barnhouse, occupation de la Céramique Cannelée à Orkney, de Colin Richards, Andrew Meirion Jones, Ann MacSween, Alison Sheridan, Elaine Dunbar, Paula Reimer, Alex Bayliss, Seren Griffiths, & Alasdair Whittle

Une datation au C14, avec modélisation chronologique bayésienne, entreprise dans le cadre d’une étude du projet ‘Le meilleur temps de leur vie’ sur le développement d’une occupation et de poterie du néolithique final à Orkney, a fourni une nouvelle datation précise pour l’occupation de la Céramique Cannelée de Barnhouse, fouillée en 1985–91. Nous présentons les entendements antérieurs du site et de sa poterie. Un modèle Bayésien reposant sur 70 mesures sur 62 échantillons (dont 50 sont jugés dater avec précision les dépôts d’où ils ont été recouvrés) donne à penser que l’occupation commença probablement dans la dernière partie du XXXIIe siècle av.J.-C.cal (avec les Maisons 2, 9, 3 et peut-être 5a) peut-être comme fondations planifiées. La Structure 8; grande structure monumentale qui se distinguait des maisons par son caractère, fut probablement construite juste après le passage au nouveau millénaire. Diverses durées et remplacements de maisons sont évalués. La Maison 2 cessa d’être utilisée avant la fin de l’occupation et la Structure 8 fut probablement le dernier élément à être abandonné, probablement pendant la première partie du XXIXe siècle av.J.-C. La poterie de la Céramique Cannellée du site se caractérise par des récipients de petite, moyenne et grande taille avec des décorations incisées et imprimées, y compris un motif de cordon particulier, une ligne ondulée en faux- relief. Un considérable degré de consistance est apparent dans de nombreux aspects de la conception et de la fabrication de la poterie sur la durée d’utilisation/ de vie de l’occupation, le principal changement étant l’apparition, à partir d’environ 3025–2975 av. J.-C. cal. de grands récipients en poterie grossière avec des surfaces inégales et d’épais cordons appliqués, et de l’usage d’application de pastilles en creux circulaires. Les circonstances des nouvelles fondations d’occupation dans la partie ouest de l’île principale sont discutées, ainsi que l’entretien et le caractère du site. La poterie du site se situe parmi les plus anciennes Céramiques Cannelées datées à ce jour. Nous notons ses relations plus étendues, ainsi que les importantes implications pour notre compréhension de la datation et des circonstances de l’émergence de la Céramique Cannelée, et le rôle de la culture matérielle dans les stratégies sociales.

Zussamenfassung

Siedlungsdauer und Materialität: Formale chronologische Modelle für die Entwicklung der Grooved Ware Siedlung von Barnhouse, Orkney, von Colin Richards, Andrew Meirion Jones, Ann MacSween, Alison Sheridan, Elaine Dunbar, Paula Reimer, Alex Bayliss, Seren Griffiths und Alasdair Whittle

Radiokarbondatierungen und Bayesische Chronologiemodellierung, die als Teil der Untersuchungen des Times of their Lives Projekts durchgeführt wurden um die Entwicklung der spätneolithischen Siedlungsweise und Keramik von Orkney zu erfassen, erbrachte präzise neue Datierungen für die Siedlung der Grooved Ware von Barnhouse, die 1985–91 ausgegraben worden ist. Die bisherigen Vorstellungen zum Siedlungsplatz und seiner Keramik werden vorgestellt. Ein Bayesisches Modell, das auf 70 Messungen von 62 Proben basiert (von denen 50 Proben als exakt die Schichten datierend erachtet werden, aus denen sie geborgen wurden), lässt den Schluss zu, dass die Siedlung wahrscheinlich im späten 32. Jahrhundert cal. BC begann (mit den Häusern 2, 9, 3 und vielleicht 5a), möglicherweise als eine geplante Gründung. Struktur 8 – eine große, monumentale Struktur, deren Charakter sich von jenem der Häuser unterscheidet – wurde wahrscheinlich direkt nach der Jahrtausendwende erbaut. Unterschiedliche Laufzeiten und Verlagerungen von Häusern können veranschlagt werden. Haus 2 wurde noch vor dem Ende der Siedlung nicht mehr genutzt und Struktur 8 war wahrscheinlich das letzte Element, das aufgegeben wurde, wahrscheinlich während des frühen 29. Jahrhunderts cal. bc. Die Grooved Ware Keramik des Fundplatzes wird charakterisiert durch kleine, mittelgroße und große Gefäße mit geritzter und eingetiefter Verzierung, darunter auch ein auffälliges Motiv einer Wellenlinienwulst in falschem Relief. Ein bemerkenswerter Grad an Beständigkeit ist erkennbar in vielen Aspekten der Gestaltung und Herstellung der Keramik während der Nutzungsdauer der Siedlung, wobei der wichtigste Wandel zwischen ca. 3025 und 2975 cal. bc eintritt mit der Einführung von großen Grobgefäßen mit unebenen Oberflächen und dicken aufgelegten Wulsten und mit dem Anbringen von eingedrückten rundlichen Warzen. Die Umstände der Neugründung einer Siedlung im westlichen Teil von Mainland werden diskutiert und ebenso die Aufrechterhaltung und der Charakter des Fundplatzes. Die Keramik dieses Fundplatzes gehört zu der ältesten bislang datierten Grooved Ware. Ihre weiteren Beziehungen werden benannt wie auch die signifikante Bedeutung für unsere Vorstellungen vom zeitlichen Ablauf und der Umstände der Entstehung der Grooved Ware sowie von der Rolle von materieller Kultur in sozialen Strategien.

Resumen

Duración del asentamiento y materialidad: modelos cronológicos formales para el desarrollo de Barnhouse, un asentamiento de la Grooved Ware en Las Orcadas, por Colin Richards, Andrew Meirion Jones, Ann MacSween, Alison Sheridan, Elaine Dunbar, Paula Reimer, Alex Bayliss, Seren Griffiths, y Alasdair Whittle.

Las dataciones radiocarbónicas y las modelizaciones bayesianas, llevadas a cabo en el ámbito del proyecto Times of Their Lives centrado en el desarrollo de los asentamientos durante el Neolítico Final y la cerámica de Las Orcadas, han aportado una datación precisa para el asentamiento Grooved Ware de Barnhouse, excavado en los años 1985–91. Se presentan las interpretaciones previas sobre el sitio y su cerámica. El modelo bayesiano realizado con 70 dataciones realizadas a partir de 62 muestras ( de las cuales 50 muestras datan de forma precisa el contexto de procedencia) sugiere que el asentamiento probablemente comenzó a finales del siglo XXXII cal bc (con las casas 2, 9, 3 y quizá la 5a), posiblemente siguiendo una fundación planificada. La estructura 8 - una estructura monumental que difiere claramente de las casas- fue probablemente construida justo después del cambio de milenio. Se estiman la duración de ocupación de las casas y su reemplazo. La casa 2 se abandonó antes del final del asentamiento, y la estructura 8 fue probablemente el último elemento en ser abandonado, posiblemente a inicios del siglo XXIX cal bc. La cerámica Grooved Ware está caracterizada por un tamaño pequeño, medio y grande con decoración incisa e impresa, incluyendo como distintivo el bajorrelieve y los cordones ondulantes. Un considerable grado de consistencia es aparente en muchos aspectos del diseño cerámico y de su manufactura a lo largo de la vida del asentamiento, siendo la principal modificación la aparición, ca. 3025–2975 cal bc, de grandes vasijas de manufactura grosera con superficies irregulares, gruesos cordones aplicados y el uso de botones circulares rehundidos. Se discuten las circunstancias sobre la fundación de un nuevo asentamiento al oeste en tierra firme al igual que el mantenimiento y carácter del sitio. La cerámica documentada se podría considerar entre los primeros ejemplos de Grooved Ware. Se señalan sus amplias conexiones, al igual que las significativas implicaciones que tienen para nuestra comprensión del momento de aparición de la cerámica Grooved Ware y sus particularidades, así como el papel de la cultura material en las estrategias sociales.

Type
Articles
Copyright
© The Prehistoric Society 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ashmore, P. 1998. Radiocarbon dates for settlements, tombs and ceremonial sites with Grooved Ware in Scotland. In A. Gibson & D. Simpson (eds), Prehistoric Ritual and Religion, 139147. Stroud: Sutton Google Scholar
Ashmore, P. 2005. Dating Barnhouse. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 385388 Google Scholar
Bayliss, A. 2009. Rolling out revolution: using radiocarbon dating in archaeology. Radiocarbon 51, 123147 Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1995. Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal program. Radiocarbon 36, 425430 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009a. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51, 3760 Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009b. Dealing with outliers and offsets in radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon 51, 10231045 Google Scholar
Bronk, C.R. & Hedges, R.E.M. 1990. A gaseous ion source for routine AMS radiocarbon dating. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research B 52, 322326 Google Scholar
Buck, C.E., Cavanagh, W.G. & Litton, C.D. 1996. Bayesian Approach to Interpreting Archaeological Data. Chichester: Wiley Google Scholar
Buck, C.E., Kenworthy, J.B., Litton, C.D. & Smith, A.F.M. 1991. Combining archaeological and radiocarbon information: a Bayesian approach to calibration. Antiquity 65, 808821 Google Scholar
Cartwright, C.R. 2005. The wood charcoal assemblage. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 359365 Google Scholar
Childe, V.G. 1931. Skara Brae: a Pictish village in Orkney. London: Kegan Paul Google Scholar
Childe, V.G. & Grant, W.G. 1939. A Stone Age settlement at the Braes of Rinyo, Rousay, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 73, 631 Google Scholar
Clarke, A. 2005. The stone tool assemblage, In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 323334 Google Scholar
Clarke, D.V. 1976. The Neolithic Village at Skara Brae, Orkney: 1972–73 excavations. Edinburgh: Department of the Environment & Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Google Scholar
Coles, D. & Miles, M. 2013. The Neolithic settlement at Green Farm. Orkney Archaeological Society Newsletter 9, 38 Google Scholar
Downes, J. & Richards, C. 2005. The dwellings at Barnhouse. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 57–12 Google Scholar
Downes, J., Richards, C., Brown, J., Cresswell, A.J., Ellen, R., Davies, A.D., Hall, A., McCulloch, R., Sanderson, D.C.W. & Simpson, I.A. 2013. Investigating the great Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, In Richards (ed.) 2013, 90118 Google Scholar
Freeman, S.P.H.T, Cook, G.T., Dougans, A.B., Naysmith, P., Wilcken, K.M. & Xu, S. 2010. Improved SSAMS performance. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research B 268, 715717 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gee, C., Richards, C. & Robertson, M. 2016. Local histories of passage grave building communities: Brae of Smerquoy. In Richards & Jones (eds) 2016, 6190 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, A. 2010. Dating Balbirnie: recent radiocarbon dates from the stone circle and cairn at Balbirnie, Fife, and a review of its place in the overall Balfarg/Balbirnie site sequence. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 140, 5177 Google Scholar
Gillespie, R., Hedges, R.E.M. & White, N.R. 1983. The Oxford radiocarbon accelerator facility. Radiocarbon 25, 729737 Google Scholar
Griffiths, S. 2016. Beside the ocean of time: a chronology of Neolithic burial monuments and houses in Orkney. In Richards & Jones (eds) 2016, 254302 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hedges, R.E.M. 1981. Radiocarbon dating with an accelerator: review and preview. Archaeometry 23, 118 Google Scholar
Henshall, A.S. 1979. Artefacts from the Quanterness cairn. In C. Renfrew, Investigations in Orkney, 7593. London: Thames & Hudson Google Scholar
Henshall, A.S. 1993. The Grooved Ware: vessels P41–P82. In G.J. Barclay & C.J. Russell-White, Excavations in the ceremonial complex of the fourth to second millennium bc at Balfarg/Balbirnie, Glenrothes, Fife, 94–108. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 123, 43210 Google Scholar
Hill, J. & Richards, C. 2005. Structure 8: monumentality at Barnhouse. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 157188 Google Scholar
Hunter, J., with Bond, J.M. & Smith, A.N. 2007. Investigations in Sanday, Orkney. Vol 1: excavations at Pool, Sanday. A multi-period settlement from Neolithic to Late Norse times. Kirkwall: Orcadian in association with Historic Scotland Google Scholar
Hurcombe, L.M. 2014. Perishable Material Culture in Prehistory. Oxford: Routledge Google Scholar
Jones, A. 2000. Life after death: monuments, material culture and social change in Neolithic Orkney. In A. Ritchie (ed.), Neolithic Orkney in its European Context, 127138. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Google Scholar
Jones, A. 2002. Archaeological Theory and Scientific Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Google Scholar
Jones, A. 2005. The Grooved Ware from Barnhouse. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 261282 Google Scholar
Jones, A. & Richards, C. 2005. Living in Barnhouse. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 2352 Google Scholar
Jones, A., Cole, W.J. & Jones, R.E. 2005. Organic residue analysis of Grooved Ware from Barnhouse. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 283291 Google Scholar
Lanting, J.N., Aerts-Bijma, A.T. & Plicht, J. van der 2001. Dating of cremated bones. Radiocarbon 43, 249254 Google Scholar
MacSween, A. 2007. The pottery. In J. Hunter et al. (eds) 2007, 287353 Google Scholar
MacSween, A., Hunter, J., Sheridan, A., Bond, J., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, P., Bayliss, A., Griffiths, S. & Whittle, A. 2015. Refining the chronology of the Neolithic settlement at Pool, Sanday, Orkney. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 81, 283310 Google Scholar
Mook, W.G. & Waterbolk, H.T. 1985. Radiocarbon Dating. Strasbourg: European Science Foundation Google Scholar
Olsen, J., Heinemeier, J., Hornstrup, K., Bennike, P. & Thrane, H. 2013. ‘Old wood’ effect in radiocarbon dating of prehistoric cremated bones? Journal of Archaeological Science 40, 3034 Google Scholar
Reimer, P.J., Hoper, S., McDonald, J., Reimer, R., Svyatko, S. & Thompson, M. 2015. The Queen’s University, Belfast: Laboratory protocols used for AMS radiocarbon dating at the 14 CHRONO Centre. Swindon: English Heritage Google Scholar
Reimer, P.J., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Blackwell, P., Bronk Ramsey, C., Buck, C.E., Cheng, H., Edwards, R.L., Friedrich, M., Grootes, P.M., Guilderson, T.P., Haflidason, H., Hajdas, I., Hatté, C., Heaton, T.J., Hoffmann, D.L., Hogg, A.G., Hughen, K.A., Kaiser, K.F., Kromer, B., Manning, S.W., Niu, M., Reimer, R.W., Richards, D.A., Scott, E.M., Southon, J.R., Staff, R.A., Turney, C.S.M. & Plicht, J. van der 2013. IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal bp . Radiocarbon 55, 18691887 Google Scholar
Richards, C. (ed.) 2005a. Dwelling Among the Monuments: the Neolithic village of Barnhouse, Maes Howe passage grave and surrounding monuments at Stenness. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Google Scholar
Richards, C. 2005b. The ceremonial House 2. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 129156 Google Scholar
Richards, C. (ed.) 2013. Building the Great Stone Circles of the North. Oxford: Windgather Press Google Scholar
Richards, C. & Jones, R.E. (eds) 2016. The Development of Neolithic House Societies in Orkney. Oxford: Windgather Press CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richards, C., Downes, J., Gee, C. & Carter, S. 2016. Materializing Neolithic house societies in Orkney: introducing Varme Dale and Muckquoy. In Richards & Jones (eds) 2016, 224253 Google Scholar
Ritchie, J.N.G. 1974. Excavation of the stone circle and cairn at Balbirnie, Fife. Archaeological Journal 131, 132 Google Scholar
Ritchie, J.N.G. 1976. The Stones of Stenness, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 107, 160 Google Scholar
Schulting, R., Sheridan, J.A., Crozier, R. & Murphy, E. 2010. Revisiting Quanterness: new AMS dates and stable isotope data from an Orcadian chamber tomb. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 140, 150 Google Scholar
Sharples, N. 1992. Aspects of regionalisation in the Scottish Neolithic. In N. Sharples & J.A. Sheridan (eds), Vessels for the Ancestors: essays on the Neolithic of Britain and Ireland in honour of Audrey Henshall, 322331. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press Google Scholar
Sheridan, J.A. 2004. Going round in circles? Understanding the Irish Grooved Ware ‘complex’ in its wider context. In H. Roche, E. Grogan, J. Bradley, J. Coles & B. Raftery (eds), From Megaliths to Metal: essays in honour of George Eogan, 2637. Oxford: Oxbow Books Google Scholar
Sheridan, J.A. 2014. Little and large: the miniature ‘carved stone ball’ beads from the eastern tomb at Knowth, Ireland, and their broader significance. In R.-M. Arbogast & A. Greffier-Richard (eds), Entre archéologie et écologie, une préhistoire de tous les milieux. Mélanges offerts à Pierre Pétrequin, 303314. Besançon: Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté Google Scholar
Slota, P.J. Jr, Jull, A.J.T., Linick, T.W. & Toolin, L.J. 1987. Preparation of small samples for 14C accelerator targets by catalytic reduction of CO. Radiocarbon 29, 303306 Google Scholar
Snoeck, C., Brock, F. & Schulting, R.J. 2014. Carbon exchanges between bone apatite and fuels during cremation: impact on radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 56, 591602 Google Scholar
Stapleton, C.P. & Bowman, S.G.E. 2005. An examination of the cramp from Barnhouse and Mouseland, Mainland, Orkney. In Richards (ed.) 2005a, 381384 Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. & Polach, H.A. 1977. Reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19, 355363 Google Scholar
Thomas, A. & Lee, D. 2012. Orkney’s first farmers: early Neolithic settlement on Wyre. Current Archaeology 268, 1219 Google Scholar
Thomas, J. 2010. The return of the Rinyo-Clacton folk? The cultural significance of the Grooved Ware complex in Later Neolithic Britain. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 20, 116 Google Scholar
Towers, R., Card, N. & Edmonds, M. 2015. The Ness of Brodgar. Kirkwall: Ness of Brodgar Trust Google Scholar
Vandeputte, K., Moens, L. & Dams, R. 1996. Improved sealed-tube combustion of organic samples to CO2 for stable isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating and percent carbon determinations. Analytical Letters 29, 27612773 Google Scholar
Vogel, J.S., Southon, J.R., Nelson, D.E. & Brown, T.A. 1984. Performance of catalytically condensed carbon for use in Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 233, 289293 Google Scholar
Wainwright, G.J. & with Longworth, I.H. 1971. Durrington Walls: excavations 1966–1968. London: Society of Antiquaries Google Scholar
Ward, G.K. & Wilson, S.R. 1978. Procedures for comparing and combining radiocarbon age determinations: a critique. Archaeometry 20, 1931 Google Scholar