Taking out the Trash: On Excavating Settlements in General, and Houses of the Battle Axe Culture in Particular

Åsa M Larsson

doi:10.37718/csa.2008.07

Abstract

Archaeological interpretation rests partly on theory and partly on material remains, and changes in field methods can cause major changes in both areas. Longhouses were virtually unknown on mainland Sweden until the introduction of the excavator machine in the late 1970s. However, this method is biased in that the cultural practice of some periods is favoured at the expense of others. From the Battle Axe culture very few houses and artcfacts have been found, and it has bcen suggested the sitcs were not true settlements. This vicw is challenged by showing that taphonomic processes and cultural practice combine to make this period difficult to identify using the standard field method. Paradoxically, some other periods have no more remains and/or house structures than the Battle Axe period has, but they are not subjected to the same debate. Comparison with Corded Ware sites in Europe provides support for the argument that the scarcity of Battle Axe settlements is mainly due to taphonomic processes. Thc article calls for more reflective field methods on all prehistoric settlements.

Highlights

Archaeological interpretation rests partly on theory and partly on material rcmains, and changes in field methods can cause major changes in both areas
Thc article calls for Inore reflective field methods on all prehistoric settlelnents
In this article I will discuss the apparent problem with finding and identifying settlements belonging to the Battle Axe culture (c. 2850—2350 BC)

Summary

Åsa M Larsson

Archaeological interpretation rests partly on theory and partly on material rcmains, and changes in field methods can cause major changes in both areas. ) In archaeological excavations of the 21" century houses are a regular occurrence, and in our textbooks the settlements of the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age are illustrated by increasingly large and imposing longhouses, alone or in a group. It is easy, to forget that until the beginning of the 1980s very few houses had been found at prehistoric sites in Sweden (Göthberg 1995; Göthberg et al 1995; Säfvestad 1995). In their publication of houses dated to the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age at Fosie, Björhem and Säfvestad present a very clear overview of the structures, features, finds and "C-dates. More than 90% of the Late Neolithic material from Fosie consists of stone

Taliirg oai the Tiasli

SOME EMERGING PATTERNS OF SPATIAL ORGANISATION IN THE NEO LITHIC

Findings

PROBLEMS AND POSSIBILITIES WITH THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHOD