Articles and Scholarly Works (Duluth)
Persistent link for this collection
Open access articles and scholarly works authored by members of the University of Minnesota Duluth community.
Browse
Browsing Articles and Scholarly Works (Duluth) by Author "Burley, Paul D"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Recognizing spatial and temporal relationships between Neolithic earthen monuments, Earth, and sky at Cranborne Chase, Southern Britain(2023-01) Burley, Paul DCranborne Chase in southern England is a well-known area of Neolithic archaeology including numerous long barrows, the largest and longest cursus in Britain, and many other structures. This multi-disciplinary geoarchaeological research project reviews local and regional geologic and paleoenvironmental characteristics of Cranborne Chase and the adjoining South Hampshire Lowlands, with specific interest in the physiographic setting of Early- to Mid-Neolithic earthen long barrows and the Dorset Cursus. Locations, forms and architectural features of the earthen monuments are analyzed with regard to local and regional geologic, geomorphic, pedologic, topographic, paleoenvironmental, and astronomical conditions for the period of monument construction c. 3800 to 3200 BC. Cultural development in southern Britain c. the 4th millennium is reviewed in tandem with descriptions of natural physiographic and paleoenvironmental conditions that are unique to Cranborne Chase and the lowland. Historical and ethnographical information provides analogies with respect to prehistoric cultural astronomy. Spatial and temporal relationships are identified between elements of the landscape, skyscape, and monuments. Results of this study demonstrate that spatial and temporal relationships between the earthen structures and elements of the surrounding landscape, seascape, and skyscape are key to recognizing and understanding the symbolism and signification expressed by the monumental architecture. The cultural expresses spatial and temporal unification by alignment between Earth and sky, and the living and the dead. In that way, the cultural landscape is related to a Neolithic cosmology emphasizing certain elements of the observable landscape and skyscape, and belief in an astral afterlife.Item Revisiting the Megalithic Yard(2020-03-19) Mooers, Howard D; Burley, Paul DA long-standing question in British archaeology is whether a standard unit of linear measure was used by Neolithic architects and engineers in the construction of megalithic circles. Well-developed trade networks were established throughout the Near East into northern Europe by 4000 BC and commerce required standardized measure of trade goods. Well before this time, standardized linear measure was in use for surveying in the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile agricultural regions. Growing evidence, such as the Folkton and Lavant chalk drums, suggest that Neolithic construction included standard measurements. We suggest that measurement standards were introduced in Britain with the immigration of Neolithic people about 4000 BC.