HAM HILL STONE: A MEDIEVAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERN FROM SOMERSET

Abstract

SummaryThis paper explores the potential of simple quantitative techniques for elucidating a medieval distribution pattern. The distribution is that of a distinctive building‐stone found in parish churches in Somerset and throughout the south‐west. Dating is achieved by recognition of different architectural styles and the stone's occurrence is plotted within 25 km of the source quarry at Ham Hill near Yeovil. The study has dual implications in that simple statistical techniques enable new conclusions to be made concerning the mechanisms of the stone's distribution, but some of these conclusions can also be checked against the documentary evidence. Therefore both distribution and techniques come under scrutiny. In this way a complementary archaeological and historical approach united by quantitative techniques and documents is applied to a medieval distribution problem but has implications for the prehistorian also.