Rural Settlement
- In what ways did rural settlements change during the post-medieval period? Is there evidence of growth / decline?
- To what extent did wider crises (e.g. Wars of the Three Kingdoms / ‘Ill Years’ of the 1690s) affect rural settlements in South-East Scotland?
- How commonly were rural settlements abandoned during the post-medieval period? What led to these sites ceasing to be occupied?
- How extensive was ‘clearance’ activity in South-East Scotland?
- What can we discover about rural land use between 1600 and 1800?
- What can we learn about animal husbandry?
- How did notions of agricultural ‘improvement’ affect rural communities? At what date did policies of improvement start to be implemented?
- What sorts of industrial activities were taking place in rural communities? How were these industries shaping the surrounding areas?
- Did differences between upland and lowland communities grow more pronounced during the post-medieval period?
- What can we learn about temporary settlements and sites associated with transhumance?
- How much variation in plan and construction was there in lower status rural dwellings?
- Are there any distinctive regional aspects to lower status rural dwellings and settlements?
- What can we discover about the design of agricultural buildings (e.g. barns, byres)?
- To what extent did notions of ‘polite’ architecture affect the design of rural buildings?
- What can we discover about the management of drinking water and waste disposal in rural areas?
- How different were planned villages from other settlements of the time?
- To what extent did access to consumer goods increase in rural areas during the post-medieval period?
- What evidence can we find of connections between rural communities and the wider world?
Urban Settlement
- To what extent were the late 17th and early 18th centuries a period of urban crisis in South-East Scotland?
- What drove some burghs to expand during the post-medieval period, whilst other communities experienced decline?
- Can we see the impact of the union of 1707 on urban communities?
- To what degree was urban development in the 17th and 18th centuries planned? Can we see a growth in the influence of architects and town planners?
- How much continuity was there between medieval and post-medieval street plans and property boundaries?
- Is there evidence of increasing social stratification in urban areas? Did the post-medieval period see a change in the proximity of the living arrangements of different ranks in society?
- To what extent was there an increasing separation of residential and commercial space?
- What can we discover about middle ranking and smaller burghs? How physically different from the surrounding countryside were these smaller urban communities?
- To what extent did coastal and inland burghs differ?
- What can we learn about post-medieval suburbs?
- What happened to urban gateways? When and why did communities stop maintaining gateways / actively demolish them?
- How did urban dwellings evolve during the post-medieval period? To what extent did homes in burghs differ from dwellings in rural settlements?
- How widespread were classical influences in urban architecture? At what date did classicism start to take hold?
- To what extent did timber construction (including external galleries) continue during the post-medieval period?
- Were there significant differences between the design of urban dwellings in Edinburgh and in other burghs?
- Were there particular regional characteristics of urban dwellings in South-East Scotland?
- What can we learn about the decoration of urban residences?
- How much variety was there in living standards in urban areas? Is there evidence for particular periods of hardship / growing inequality?
- Is there evidence for waste / derelict sites? Were there periods with a particular preponderance of waste properties?
- Is there evidence of fires or other forms of destruction?
- How did marketplaces and shops develop during the post-medieval period?
- What can we discover about the development of civic buildings / spaces?
- What can we find out about educational institutions (e.g. colleges, schools)?
- What can we discover about educational provision in the home?
- What can we learn about crime and punishment?
- How was water and waste managed in urban areas? Is there evidence of greater challenges with waste management during the post-medieval period?
- How did gardens and green spaces within and immediately adjacent to urban areas change over the course of the post-medieval period? Did the amount of green spaces within urban areas increase or decrease between 1600 and 1800?
- How did burghs impact their environs? Is there evidence for different patterns of settlement, land use, or pollution in the immediate hinterland of urban settlements?
High Status Residences
- In what ways did elite residences change during the post-medieval period?
- When did classical / palladian influences begin to become popular in elite architecture?
- To what extent did elite dwellings in South-East Scotland follow national and international fashions?
- What can we discover about the craftspeople who worked on the construction and maintenance of elite residences?
- How did the location of post-medieval elite residences relate to earlier sites of importance?
- What factors shaped the location and design of estate centres?
- To what extent were defensive considerations relevant to the design of post-medieval elite residences?
- Did notable periods of crisis and instability (e.g. the Wars of the Three Kingdoms or the Jacobite Risings) significantly affect elite sites?
- Where were food and goods sourced for elite residences?
- How much evidence is there for the importation of luxuries (or indeed any other type of resources)?
- What can we discover about entertainment and leisure at elite residences?
- What can we find out about the homes of the lower-ranking gentry? To what extent were they visibly different from the dwellings of surrounding farming communities?
- What was the gender balance in elite residences? What can we find out about the lives of women in these households?
- What can we discover about the lives of retainers and servants?
- How did the service buildings for elite residences evolve during the post-medieval period? Was there a greater separation between servants and gentry?
- How did garden design change over the course of the post-medieval period?
- What can we discover about banqueting houses, grottoes, and follies?
- What can we learn about the wider setting of elite residences (e.g. parks, agricultural activity, industrial sites)?
- To what extent did ideas of ‘improvement’ alter the surroundings of elite residences?
- How did elite residences impact on surrounding communities? What was the relationship between estate centres and the wider countryside?
Health and Diet
- How was food stored, prepared and served?
- What can we learn about strategies for preserving food?
- Can we discover more about patterns of spoilage / waste of food?
- Did the amount and type of meat consumed alter significantly over the course of the post-medieval period in the region?
- Where was meat sourced? Were livestock raised near to where they were slaughtered?
- What can we learn about droving practices in thre region?
- Did the amount and types of fish consumed alter significantly over the course of the post-medieval period?
- What can we discover about fishing practices during the post-medieval period?
- Is there evidence of excessive exploitation of marine resources?
- What types of fruits, vegetables and nuts were consumed?
- Was there an increase in fruit production and consumption in the region during the post-medieval period?
- To what extent were new varieties of fruits and vegetables cultivated in the region during the post-medieval period?
- What can we discover about the introduction of potatoes to the region? How quickly did potatoes become a staple food?
- What types of grains were cultivated and consumed? Can we see differences in the grains consumed in different localities or by different ranks in society?
- What was the relationship between social status and the consumption of particular types of food and drink?
- How significant were imported foods to the diet of the residents of South-East Scotland during the post-medieval period?
- Can we find evidence of the impact of globalisation and colonisation on diets in the region?
- How common was malnutrition? Can we identify particular periods of hardship?
- What diseases and injuries were prevalent? Did these change over time?
- Were certain injuries or illnesses associated with particular occupations?
- Was there a notable difference between the health of urban and rural communities?
- What parasites were common in the region?
- Can we discover more about epidemic diseases in the region?
- What can we learn about the treatment of the sick?
- Is there evidence of an increasing professionalisation in medical provision during the post-medieval period? What can we learn about the activities of doctors, surgeons, barbers, and apothecaries?
- How were the long-term sick and physically disabled cared for?
- What can we learn about the treatment of people with mental illnesses?
- Did rates and causes of infant mortality change significantly during the post-medieval period?
Leisure and Entertainment
- What can we learn about recreational activities in and around burghs?
- To what extent was there a rise in venues / open spaces dedicated to leisure activities during the post-medieval period?
- What can we learn about theatres and drama?
- What can we discover about royal entries and other forms of major national celebrations?
- What can we learn about musical instruments and performance spaces?
- How did the design, location, and significance of inns and taverns change during the post-medieval period?
- What can we discover about coffee houses?
- Can the archaeological record enhance understanding of the post-medieval sex-trade?
- What can we find out about archery, golf, football, and other sports played in South-East Scotland during the post-medieval period?
- What can we discover about post-medieval curling? To what extent were places deliberately modified to enable curling?
- What can we discover about the evolution of menageries and the importation of exotic animals?
- How did the treatment of pets change during the post-medieval period? What types of animals were kept as pets and in what conditions?
- What can we learn about cockfighting?
- What can we discover about hunting and other bloodsports in the region?
- How did men’s and women’s recreational activities compare?
- What can we learn about the introduction of tobacco to the region and its use by different sections of society?
- What can we find out about tabletop games?
- What can we discover about children’s play?
Clothing and Dress
- How did the materials and design of clothing change during the post-medieval period?
- To what extent did dress in rural and urban communities differ?
- What can we discover about the clothing of the poor?
- What can we learn about the dress of specific occupations?
- How far did clothing in South-East Scotland align with national and international fashions?
- What textiles were used for clothing? How do they change over the post-medieval period?
- What can we discover about tailors, seamstresses and milliners?
- What can we learn about children’s clothing?
- How did the design and production of shoes and boots alter during the post-medieval period? Is there evidence for different shoe-wearing practices in urban and rural areas?
- What can we discover about the mending and repairing of clothing and accessories?
- What can we learn about laundries and the cleaning of clothes?