What Is A Site? Flashcards
Paragraph 1 - definition
Unesco’s view is straight about places being built by man/ nature and man. Built environment view.
Drewit in 1999 - states that anything that leaves a mark is a site. Differing opinions on what a site is. So hard to quantify
Farms, villas, hillforts, Castles, middens etc all classed as sites.
Paragraph 2- sub categories
Can be subcategories which is functional. Determined by form, size, complexity etc for Castles do they have a motte and Bailey.
Burial mounds - round barrow, long or bronze age etc. Three kinds of future with sites - short, medium, or long term. About controlling the change and controlling sites.
Paragraph 3 - scale
Scale of sites , historic city to site if Flint knapping. All help view of the past but do we keep all. Where do we stop. Tell sites e. G. Jericho same sites used over many generations. Building on top of one another.
Sites like Stonehenge - built over 500yrs but in use for much longer.
Sites like boxgrove - date back to 500000 yrs but only in use for 20years
Simon castle built in 1231 but only used for 2 years. Sites might look impressive but don’t have any meaning.
Paragraph 4 - where do we draw line
What do you classify as the site - the stones or the whole land. Where do we draw the line stray finds and the scale. Many local issues regarding treatment, conservation, preservation.
Used for nationalist ends, legal protection is provided for sites.
It’s about controlling change - need to retain rich diversity of remains and satisfy demands of society. Responsibility at different levels causes conflicts. Not let greed take over
Paragraph 5 - changing concepts
Changing concepts of sites - new archeology the site as a centre for processes and systems.
Antiquarian - the site as an artefact.
Culture historical - the site as typical of a people.
Current attitudes show emphasis on the landscape.
Previously romanticise the past. Now lust for the new - technology etc.
A lot of archeology overlaps into other professions
Paragraph 6 - preservation
Stonehenge road preservation not just about the stones - visitor centre.
More than just the site - tourism etc. Ensures sites are there for long haul - brings money in.
Temple of the tooth - believed to house Buddha tooth relic. Destroyed and remade caused conflict
Sources
The archaeology of Britain: an introduction from earliest times to the twenty-first century - John Hunter, Ian Ralston 2009
Opposing Wind Energy Landscapes: A Search for Common Cause
Martin J. Pasqualetti - 2011t
