The research questions below derive from the archaeological research baseline presented in Chapter 6 Chalcolithic & Bronze Age of the South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework.
Please also consider the research questions raised in Chapter 2 Archaeological Practice and Chapter 3 Land and Environment of the South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework.
Many of the research recommendations from the original National ScARF and other regional research frameworks are also relevant and applicable in South West Scotland.
1. Is there a process of ‘beakerisation’ in our region forming a distinct Chalcolithic period? How does the beaker phenomenon manifest itself? Are there local intra-regional patterns evident? And to what extent are copper objects appearing in funerary contexts at this time?
- Potential ‘Beaker’ burials have been recorded in the region as antiquarian finds, so it is difficult to confidently assert them as such. A possible Beaker grave was recorded at Courthill near Dalry, but most finds of Beaker Pottery derive from later re-use of Neolithic funerary and ritual monuments. Isolated sherds of beaker type vessels have for example been recovered from the chambered cairns of Cairnholy I, Lochhill, Mid Gleniron and Dunan Mor and the henge monument at Curriestanes.
2. Can we identify chronological overlap between late Neolithic and Chalcolithic communities or cultural traits? If so, can we recognise the retention or assimilation of Neolithic characteristics within the emerging Chalcolithic tradition?
3. Can we recognise in our archaeological record any evidence for the extra-regional origin of the first Chalcolithic communities? How does this compare with the connections of neighbouring regions?
4. Separate from population movement, can we refine the patterning of cultural affinities and connections with neighbouring or more distant regions through material culture?
5. At what stage in our region can we recognise evidence of social structures and relationships through the circulation and exchange of copper alloy objects? Is this manifestation consistent across our region? Further, how does this fit with comparable national evidence?
6. Can we identify recurring patterns in mortuary pathway choices during the Early and Middle Bronze Age? If so, are there distinct characteristics (e.g. kinship, sex, age or pathology) that separate pathways or intra-regional variation in practices. Further, can any of these pathway choices be shown or inferred to connect with the life of the individual?
- Archaeological investigations carried out across the region in recent decades suggest that the treatment of the dead followed a complex mortuary pathway in which numerous choices might be made. Over and above the basic choice between inhumation versus cremation, decisions were made as to whether or not to include grave goods, whether to place cremated ashes in a container, what kind of container, how much of the ashes to include and how much pyre material may be included in association, whether to mark the grave, where to locate the grave (and where to place it in relation to previous burials), how to construct the grave-pit/cist etc. Inhumations have been recorded from West Cairngaan, Kirkmaiden and Lockerbie Academy, with possible pyre sites for cremations noted at Arran High School and Townfoot Farm. Some more recent developer-led excavations have shed light on the diversity of funerary practices occurring in the region, and how these changed during the Bronze Age. An illustration of just how varied Bronze Age mortuary pathways can be across the region can be seen by comparing sites like Barassie, Arran High School, Lockerbie Academy, and Boreland.
7. Can the synthesis of human skeletal material studies from our region create a discrete, regional picture of demographics and health for our communities? Further, how do these characteristics change over time or across our region?
8. Is there evidence for population movements between regions?
- The treatment of the dead follows a complex mortuary pathway in which numerous choices are made (for example Arran High School). These choices relate to how the corpse is treated prior to inclusion in the grave, whether or not to include grave goods, whether to place cremated ashes in a container, what kind of container, how much of the ashes to include and how much pyre material may be included in association, whether to mark the grave, where to locate the grave (and where to place it in relation to previous burials), how to construct the grave-pit/cist etc.
9. Can we more consistently identify Late Bronze Age funerary deposits? If so, what are their characteristics and is there comparable material currently unidentified in museum assemblages?
10. Can specific traits in funerary pathways show cultural affinities to other regions, particularly those located on the western seaboard? If so, do these consistently link to the same regions or is there a diversity of cultural connections?
- The latest evidence for Bronze Age funerary evidence comes from the late 3rd early 2nd millennium with a plain urn, perforated below the rim and similar in character to Late Bronze Age domestic wares. Similar pottery type was recovered from Nelson Street, Largs and there is also tendency for multiple burials. Can we identify any further examples which display similar characteristics?
11. Does the limited evidence for earlier Bronze Age settlement reflect occupation patterns or a failure to excavate and recognise settlement types? Can we identify continuity in the Chalcolithic and earlier Bronze Age from late Neolithic settlements?
- Postulated similarities between the use of a decorated cist cover slab at Craig Tara, Dunure Road, and wider western seaboard and Irish patterns.
12. Given the more substantive evidence for later Bronze Age settlement, does this reflect a change in monument type, incursive populations or preferential survival?
13. Can we identify consistent evidence for the enclosure of settlements in the later Bronze Age? Further, is there any evidence that this is tied to conflict or inter personal violence in our region during this period? In the absence of direct evidence, can proxy evidence be used to infer violent actions or the potential for this?
14. Are there coherent patterns which infer the organisation, structured division and use of the agricultural landscape? How do these relate to settlement sites, enclosed sites and funerary sites in the same landscape?
15. Can we recognise a separation in our region between settled agricultural landscapes and funerary or ritual landscapes? If so, how might the landscape of the living relate to the landscape of the dead? Do these landscapes reference or re-use the relict funerary and ritual monuments of the Neolithic?
16. Is there evidence in our region from later hilltop defended sites for Bronze Age use? If so, is there continuity of use across periods or can this be interpreted as opportunistic use of the same geographic location?
- Thermoluminescence dating undertaken at Auldhill, Portencross produced data which the excavators argued inferred occupation of the site potentially extending back into the Bronze Age. Bronze Age occupation of hillfort sites is unknown more widely across the British Isles, but whether these sites were viewed and used as settlements in the region at this time remains inconclusive. Certainly, Bronze Age monuments are known from hillforts like Burnswark and Carwinning Hill.
17. Can environmental and material culture evidence create a discrete, regional picture of subsistence for our communities? If so, can the pattern of resource exploitation be shown to change over time or show intra-regional variation?
18. Can we recover evidence of the means of transport used in our region during this period? In the absence of direct evidence, can proxy evidence be used to infer reasonable options for transportation and travel?
19. Can we re-examine museum assemblages from funerary monuments, particularly urned cremations without radiometric dating, to enhance our comprehension of changes to the funerary pathways over time?
20. Can we re-examine metalwork deposition sites through targeted landscape survey and, where appropriate, metal detector survey and excavation, to enhance our understanding of the depositional environment and strategies? If so, can we recognise regional or intra-regional patterns and whether these change through time? Further, can we recognise connections with the broader use of the landscape including routeways and boundaries?
21. Where complex archaeological information is known from historic excavations, can we supplement this through reanalysis of retained material in our museums? In particular, the rehabilitation of funerary sites where the human skeletal material was assessed using prejudicial methods.