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Enclosure (archaeology)
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Enclosure (archaeology)
In archaeology, an enclosure is one of the most common types of archaeological site – It is any area of land separated from surrounding land by earthworks, walls or fencing. Such a simple feature is found all over the world and during almost all archaeological periods. They may be few metres across or be large enough to encompass whole cities.
Archaeological enclosures are typically representative of recurrent patterns of human activity throughout history through landscape. The absolute definition of archaeological enclosures has been debated over time. Some suggest that at a general level, enclosure (archaeologically) could be defined as the replacement of open-fields with privately owned-fields through walls, banks, and dividers. However, this definition has been criticised, as it appears many archaeological enclosures are not enclosed by a physical boundary.
Enclosures served numerous practical purposes including being used to delineate settlement areas, to create defensive positions, or to be used as animal pens. They were also widely adopted in ritual and burial practices and seem to demonstrate a fundamental human desire to make physical boundaries around spaces. Some economic historians speculate that the introduction of archaeological enclosures likely caused a shift into historical capitalist economies. Along with most archaeological interests, enclosure sites have been most researched and notably progressive during the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age.
More modern methods used to identify archaeological enclosures have been studied and developed by economic historians, historical geographers, landscape historians and trained archaeologists. Even in current times, through using accessible technology, many non-trained individuals have become interested in archaeological enclosures through methods such as satellite imaging. Enclosures created from ditches and banks or walling can often be identified in the field through aerial photography or ground survey. Other types of enclosures leave less permanent records and may only be identified during excavation.
Uses of archaeological enclosures for rituals date back to early Neolithic Age. Ritual sites often used roofless enclosures for dances, customs, mourning ceremonies. Sites such as the Native American Chumash sacred enclosures were positioned towards the middle of settlements and were often built for priests. Conversely, sites such as the Lismullin Henge in Ireland (520-370 B.C.) were created and positioned meteorologically to celebrate summer and winter solstices. Many archaeological enclosures that were once considered defensive and fortified are recently being understood as ritualistic after instances of skulls and other human bones have recently revealed to have been laid in deposits within enclosures — suggesting a recurring ritual, rather than war or other forms of battles.
The use of enclosures as defensive structures are considered to have first been used in Mesolithic times. Archaeological sites such as causewayed enclosures, enceinte enclosures, and other fortification enclosures were generally considered among the popular defensive models. For example, the Tel Jezreel enclosure built during 9th century Israel was once the central military base for the Royal Israelite army. Large scale excavation has revealed that most fortification enclosures, including Tel Jezreel, were built using layers of soil and stones to provide solid protection and defence.
Many archaeological enclosure sites throughout time have been used as dwellings, settlements and animal enclosing sites. Economic dependency, kinship, and social hierarchy all influenced the regular implementation of enclosures within communities. Some enclosures contained just single houses, while others contained entire communities within them. Enclosure entrances were usually found on the sides of the structure, with doorways into the enclosures often consisting of kerb-stones and vertical wooden jambs. The most common form of settlement enclosure was a kraal enclosure, which consisted of multiple houses surrounding a livestock enclosure.
Identification for archaeological enclosures developed five pillars of scientific archaeology method from 1860 onwards. These pillars consisted of small find and plain artefact, field notes / photography / maps / excavation, stratigraphic excavation, and publication of results, and indigenous rights. In more recent times, the methods of identification have become technologically advanced and less invasive.
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Enclosure (archaeology)
In archaeology, an enclosure is one of the most common types of archaeological site – It is any area of land separated from surrounding land by earthworks, walls or fencing. Such a simple feature is found all over the world and during almost all archaeological periods. They may be few metres across or be large enough to encompass whole cities.
Archaeological enclosures are typically representative of recurrent patterns of human activity throughout history through landscape. The absolute definition of archaeological enclosures has been debated over time. Some suggest that at a general level, enclosure (archaeologically) could be defined as the replacement of open-fields with privately owned-fields through walls, banks, and dividers. However, this definition has been criticised, as it appears many archaeological enclosures are not enclosed by a physical boundary.
Enclosures served numerous practical purposes including being used to delineate settlement areas, to create defensive positions, or to be used as animal pens. They were also widely adopted in ritual and burial practices and seem to demonstrate a fundamental human desire to make physical boundaries around spaces. Some economic historians speculate that the introduction of archaeological enclosures likely caused a shift into historical capitalist economies. Along with most archaeological interests, enclosure sites have been most researched and notably progressive during the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age.
More modern methods used to identify archaeological enclosures have been studied and developed by economic historians, historical geographers, landscape historians and trained archaeologists. Even in current times, through using accessible technology, many non-trained individuals have become interested in archaeological enclosures through methods such as satellite imaging. Enclosures created from ditches and banks or walling can often be identified in the field through aerial photography or ground survey. Other types of enclosures leave less permanent records and may only be identified during excavation.
Uses of archaeological enclosures for rituals date back to early Neolithic Age. Ritual sites often used roofless enclosures for dances, customs, mourning ceremonies. Sites such as the Native American Chumash sacred enclosures were positioned towards the middle of settlements and were often built for priests. Conversely, sites such as the Lismullin Henge in Ireland (520-370 B.C.) were created and positioned meteorologically to celebrate summer and winter solstices. Many archaeological enclosures that were once considered defensive and fortified are recently being understood as ritualistic after instances of skulls and other human bones have recently revealed to have been laid in deposits within enclosures — suggesting a recurring ritual, rather than war or other forms of battles.
The use of enclosures as defensive structures are considered to have first been used in Mesolithic times. Archaeological sites such as causewayed enclosures, enceinte enclosures, and other fortification enclosures were generally considered among the popular defensive models. For example, the Tel Jezreel enclosure built during 9th century Israel was once the central military base for the Royal Israelite army. Large scale excavation has revealed that most fortification enclosures, including Tel Jezreel, were built using layers of soil and stones to provide solid protection and defence.
Many archaeological enclosure sites throughout time have been used as dwellings, settlements and animal enclosing sites. Economic dependency, kinship, and social hierarchy all influenced the regular implementation of enclosures within communities. Some enclosures contained just single houses, while others contained entire communities within them. Enclosure entrances were usually found on the sides of the structure, with doorways into the enclosures often consisting of kerb-stones and vertical wooden jambs. The most common form of settlement enclosure was a kraal enclosure, which consisted of multiple houses surrounding a livestock enclosure.
Identification for archaeological enclosures developed five pillars of scientific archaeology method from 1860 onwards. These pillars consisted of small find and plain artefact, field notes / photography / maps / excavation, stratigraphic excavation, and publication of results, and indigenous rights. In more recent times, the methods of identification have become technologically advanced and less invasive.
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