“Follow the groove, man.” An exploration of wayfaring in the landscape of Neolithic Langdale

Calvert, Marnie Meredith (2020) “Follow the groove, man.” An exploration of wayfaring in the landscape of Neolithic Langdale. MRes thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

During the Neolithic period, the Langdale Pikes were the stage for the most prolific axe production in the British Isles, with its artefacts being distributed to all corners of the island through vast exchange networks. Their prevalence and popularity have led many archaeologists to ponder the significance of the mountainous location to Neolithic people. Like many axe production sites, Langdale has long been perceived as a liminal and even dangerous place, with the popularity of the axes attributed to their value as created by risk. In this study, we shall demonstrate that not only is this a misrepresentation of the role of mountains, but that it must be inherently false. This study will demonstrate that these were dynamic landscapes by using a combined theoretical approach to movement through least cost analysis and phenomenological fieldwork. By using both an objective and subjective approach to this landscape, the study created a path network, as defined by the various agents entangled within the landscape which were consolidated and built upon by a series of experiential walks. A methodological feedback loop was developed which overcame the limits of either approach whilst presenting the results in a credible, creative and hopefully collaborative, way through interactive story maps. Beyond the methodological developments, the results of the path network and subsequent fieldwork demonstrate a seasonal movement into this landscape wherein a variety of activities could have taken place and thus attested to the fact that this landscape could not have been liminal during the Neolithic. Successful navigation and discovery of the working sites required the traveller to be equipped with an expansive and detailed knowledge of the landscape accessed through such mnemonic movements.

• Item Type: Thesis (MRes)
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Neolithic, Cumbria, Langdale, lithics, GIS, Least Cost Analysis, phenomenology.
• Subjects: C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Supervisor's Name: Brophy, Dr. Kenny
• Date of Award: 2020
• Depositing User: Miss MArnie Calvert
• Unique ID: glathesis:2020-81422
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 27 Apr 2021 15:09
• Last Modified: 27 Apr 2021 15:42
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.81422
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/81422