Neolithic Causewayed Enclosures Overview

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Questions and Answers

What were often located within the fenced enclosure of large posts?

Stone-set hearths (correct)

Human skulls

Ditches

Woodland snails

Which cultural artifact was found at Sarup Gamle Skole XII?

Human bones in a slab

A typical dolmen of the Funnel Beaker culture (correct)

A burial mound

A stone-set hearth

What could accumulate in the ditches due to environmental effects?

Debris from nearby forests

Plant roots from surrounding vegetation

Artifacts from ancient cultures

Layer of fine-grained silt (correct)

What phenomenon could cause rapid layering of silt in ditches?

Strong winds Signup and view all the answers

What is uncertain regarding the ditches mentioned in the content?

How long they remained open Signup and view all the answers

At which site did shrubs grow in the ditches?

Etton Signup and view all the answers

What was notably found purposely broken at Sarup Gamle Skole XII?

A funnel beaker Signup and view all the answers

Which site had only one ditch profile with rapidly formed silt layers?

Sarup Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary activity that often occurred in the ditches over time?

Systematic backfilling Signup and view all the answers

How many times was re-cutting observed to occur in ditches, according to some sites?

Three to four times Signup and view all the answers

What memory aspect is associated with the ditches mentioned in the content?

Long-lived memory of their past activities Signup and view all the answers

What style of depositions was observed during the excavations at Windmill Hill?

A style dictating placement Signup and view all the answers

Where were banks identified in relation to the ditches?

Both inner and outer sides at Windmill Hill Signup and view all the answers

What was a feature of sites like Sarup I and II regarding banks and ditches?

There was insufficient room for large banks due to fenced enclosures. Signup and view all the answers

At the site of Crickley Hill, what did the banks resemble?

Platforms placed inside the ditches Signup and view all the answers

What process is compared to the activities of cutting and refilling ditches?

Fieldwork using an ard Signup and view all the answers

What term emphasizes that ditches are separate units within a system rather than one long ditch?

System-ditches Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic do the ditches in Germany often exhibit?

They tend to be placed in concentric circles. Signup and view all the answers

What typical dimensions did the original ditches have?

1m deep, 2-4m wide, 5-7m long Signup and view all the answers

What were the pits found in some ditches likely associated with?

Special finds like tools and pottery Signup and view all the answers

How can careful excavation help with understanding ditches?

It can distinguish individual phases of re-cutting. Signup and view all the answers

What unique feature can be found at several ditch sites?

Platforms and specially dug shafts Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of the base of most ditches?

It is horizontal and about 1m wide. Signup and view all the answers

What was found at Sarup I regarding the ditches?

Platforms and artifacts associated with the ditches Signup and view all the answers

What was the presumed height of the fences at Sarup I?

1.5m Signup and view all the answers

What type of structure, similar to a house, has not been found in the interior area of these enclosures?

Grubenhaus Signup and view all the answers

Where were ditches often located in some enclosures, indicating a connection between features?

Inside the enclosures Signup and view all the answers

Which site is mentioned to have an enclosed area that can be as large as 120ha?

Urmitz Signup and view all the answers

What kind of features were most commonly produced in the interiors of these enclosures?

Small pits Signup and view all the answers

What type of deposit is found in pits and features within the interior of some sites?

Special deposits of human bone Signup and view all the answers

At what sites were abundant finds found in the ditches but nothing in the interior?

Chatenay, Gravon, Grisy, and Oham Hill Signup and view all the answers

What unusual feature was uncovered at the Chasséen South site of Saint-Michel du Touch?

A ‘Grubenhaus’-like structure Signup and view all the answers

Who authored a report on the excavation and survey of a Neolithic monument complex in Dorset, England?

R.J. Mercer and F. Healy Signup and view all the answers

In which publication did Mordant and Mordant discuss Neolithic practices in Noyen-sur-Seine?

Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française Signup and view all the answers

What subject did D. Mordant explore in the work titled 'Les rites de la mort'?

Neolithic burial practices Signup and view all the answers

What type of Neolithic structures are discussed by Oswald, Dyer, and Barber?

Causewayed enclosures Signup and view all the answers

Which culture is associated with the publication 'Die europäische Perspektive' by J. Müller?

Michelsberger Kultur Signup and view all the answers

What is the main topic of the report authored by J.-G. Pariat?

Non-sepulchral human remains Signup and view all the answers

What do the 'enceintes néolithiques' refer to in D. Mordant's 1988 study?

Neolithic defensive structures Signup and view all the answers

Which report discusses the Neolithic cultures of the British Isles?

The Neolithic Cultures of the British Isles Signup and view all the answers

Who authored the work titled 'The social archaeology of megalithic monuments'?

Renfrew, C. Signup and view all the answers

In what year was the report 'Etton. Excavations at a Neolithic causewayed enclosure near Maxey' published?

1998 Signup and view all the answers

Which organization published the report on Neolithic causewayed enclosure at Staines, Surrey?

Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Signup and view all the answers

What topic is covered in the work by Raetzel-Fabian, D. published in 2000?

Architecture, ritual, and chronology of the late Neolithic Signup and view all the answers

Which author contributed to the study of animal bones from Michelsberger Erdwerke?

Stephan, E. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main subject of the article 'Windmill Hill and Avebury' authored by Smith, I.F.?

Excavations during 1925–1939 Signup and view all the answers

What type of publication is 'Die Beusterburg' by Tackenberg, K.?

Archaeological report Signup and view all the answers

What was the time frame of the excavations mentioned in the work by Robertson-Mackay, R.?

1961-1963 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Causewayed Enclosures

Causewayed enclosures are Neolithic monuments, dating from the second half of the 5th millennium BC to the 4th millennium BC.
They consist of ditches, palisades, and occasionally banks.
Ditches and palisades are often re-cut and contain various materials: human skeletons/body parts, animals, pottery, tools, and evidence of fire.
These materials show signs of transformation like skeletonization, weathering, breakage, and burning.
Associations between causewayed enclosures and megalithic tombs have been noted in some areas.

Enclosure Layout

Causewayed enclosures vary in shape from circles, ovals, spirals to triangles and keyholes.
They are often located on slopes with a gradient of 5-10%, or even low points that may have been flooded.
Placement is not always the shortest distance between two points.
Some sites are near water sources, while others are further away.
Possible influences of land use or environmental conditions on site choice.

Enclosure Contents

The finds within causewayed enclosures typically involve purposeful selection (i.e bone fragments, pottery, tools, etc.) rather than random remains.
Human remains found are often disarticulated, with evidence of treatment prior to burial.
Animal bones are also frequently present and show signs of similar treatment to human remains.
Whole pots, deliberately placed upside down, are found in the enclosures.
Flint and stone tools are also found.

Causeways

Causewayed enclosures contain causeways, which are areas left undisturbed between the ditches.
Causeways vary significantly in width.
Some causeways may contain pits or trenches.
Causeways were sometimes re-cut.

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Description

Explore the fascinating Neolithic causewayed enclosures, notable for their ditches and palisades. This quiz delves into their varied layouts, transformational materials found within, and their connections to megalithic tombs. Learn about their significance in ancient landscapes and the environmental factors affecting their placement.