Barrow landscapes appeared in the third and second millennia BC throughout North-Western Europe; these first barrows were constructed by people of the Corded Ware culture and placed in alignments....Show moreBarrow landscapes appeared in the third and second millennia BC throughout North-Western Europe; these first barrows were constructed by people of the Corded Ware culture and placed in alignments. This thesis is an interregional comparative study, to determine whether there is a pattern in the time-depths of the burial alignments of Trehuse-Sjørup-Dollerup in Denmark, Angelso-Emmerhout in The Netherlands and Lilla Beddinge in Sweden. The analysis is conducted by means of a literature study and the application of typochronologies. In recent research, the Corded Ware ‘culture’ is still seen as a widespread, unified social phenomenon that is the result of migration, but more emphasis is placed on the regional variability of this phenomenon. Regional variability is also what we see in the three case-studies; in fact, perhaps one may better speak of ‘local variability’, as each case-study reveals a remarkable variety even within one alignment. Even though there do seem to be interregionally shared traits, these are expressed in local practices. Despite the limitations of establishing a time-depth by means of typochronologies, all three alignments reveal a long use-life; even in the Bronze and Iron Ages, prehistoric people buried their dead here. Temporality seems to have been an important aspect of the ‘Corded Ware’ burial landscape.Show less
In this thesis the added value of using μ-CT scans in the study of archaeological textiles is studied. To study the potential of this technique, two samples of the textiles from the sites of Oss...Show moreIn this thesis the added value of using μ-CT scans in the study of archaeological textiles is studied. To study the potential of this technique, two samples of the textiles from the sites of Oss-Vorstengraf and Uden-Slabroekse Heide were analysed. These Early Iron Age sites are among the few prehistoric sites that have brought forth preserved archaeological textiles. The sites were chosen because of their precise dating and their thoroughly documented context information. The textiles fragments of both sites have been mineralised through their contact with metal objects and thus have been mineralised. For this research the two samples were scanned with μ-CT at a synchrotron facility. The μ-CT data was used to create 3D representations of the scanned textiles. The potential of μ-CT in the study of archaeological textiles was assessed by comparing the 3D representations of the textiles, with the results of the analysis with SEM, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and the results of the technical analysis of the same samples. With the 3D representations of the textiles, it is possible to thoroughly study the structure of a textiles from all possible angles and it provides the ability to create cross-sections of the textile. To assess the preservation of the textile and the determine the source of the fibres, SEM is the most optimal technique to be used, since it provides the required view of the surface of the individual fibres, which is lost with the 3D representations. Still, when using μ-CT to study archaeological textiles, the costs and efforts to create the 3D representations should be taken into account. In the future, the combination of μ-CT and SEM might prove to be a valuable combination to study archaeological textiles.Show less
In the north-east of Jordan lies the badia, a harsh and barren landscape that can be divided in the basalt uplands of the harra and the gravel plains of the hamad. Although the area seems...Show moreIn the north-east of Jordan lies the badia, a harsh and barren landscape that can be divided in the basalt uplands of the harra and the gravel plains of the hamad. Although the area seems uninviting, it holds a wealth of archaeological remains. The Landscapes of Survival project is one of the several research projects that studies these remains, and focusses on the pastoralist archaeology of the Safaitic time period in the Jebel Qurma region. A large part of the archaeological record at Jebel Qurma is made up of rock engravings. Part of these rock engravings contains depictions of weaponry. This thesis aims to shed light on the relationship between these weapons and the people that once carved them using iconographic research, literary sources, ethnographic accounts and epigraphic evidence. The broad main question “what can the depictions of weapons on the rock art of Jebel Qurma tell about the people that once lived here?” will be answered using sub-questions that aim to classify weapon types, look at weapon trade networks, identify patterns in weapon usage, and place data acquired at Jebel Qurma in a regional and ethnographic framework.Show less
This thesis presents the results of the reanalysis of the flint assemblage from area IV(4) from the Lower Palaeolithic site Barnham East Farm, which was dated to the beginning of the Hoxnian...Show moreThis thesis presents the results of the reanalysis of the flint assemblage from area IV(4) from the Lower Palaeolithic site Barnham East Farm, which was dated to the beginning of the Hoxnian interglacial (MIS 11). Barnham is an important site to the Clactonian debated as it was the only site where it was believed that a biface assemblage was contemporaneous to a non-biface assemblage. However, new fieldwork suggested that a palimpsest was present in area IV(4). The new analysis concentrated on the technological classification of the artefacts, their distribution and preservation. Preservation was investigated by analysing abrasion, patination, breakage, edge damage and surface scratching. It was proven that, based on abrasion and distribution, a slow accumulation palimpsest (cf. Malinsky-Buller et al. 2011) is present in area IV(4). This palimpsest consists of an older, non-biface component overprinted by a younger component with evidence for biface manufacture. This is in contrast to the previous interpretation of Barnham, which concluded that the non-biface assemblage (area I) and the biface assemblage (area IV(4)) were contemporaneous. The new analysis supports a sequence with an older non-biface assemblage (Clactonian) and a younger biface assemblage (Acheulean). Two models remain that explain this sequence: the resource and landscape model (cf. Ashton 1998a), that suggests a functional reason for the disappearance of bifaces from the archaeological record, and a demographic model, that contributes the loss of bifaces to a decline in population sizes.Show less
Determining the difference in military or political function of castles is a topic heavily debated between scholars. Traditionally the military function has been studied through the use of...Show moreDetermining the difference in military or political function of castles is a topic heavily debated between scholars. Traditionally the military function has been studied through the use of historical documents or archaeological research into the outer and tower wall thickness of a castles. However, there is another source of material that enables to study a facet of the military functions of castles; military material to study the defence of the castle of against a siege. To examine the possibilities of military material as a source, a case-study has been performed on the military material excavated at eight castles in the county of Holland dating between 1250-1450. The eighth studied castles were grouped into three morphological types of castles. The castle types used in the thesis, from large to small: square castles, keep towers, and moated sites. To determine if castle was besieged using military material a theoretical framework is proposed for the deposition of military material during various events with a heightened deposition probability. The expected deposition of military objects during peace is low compared to the deposition of military objects during a siege. There is no expected pattern for the assembly of military objects deposited during peace. While, the expected loss of military objects during a siege would show a higher amount of projectiles, hand arms and polearms, depending on the siege method employed. However, during the destruction of the castle as part of the scorched earth tactic or as punishment high amount of military material is expected as well. Examining the military material at the eight castle, it can be concluded that during sieges and the destruction of castles large amounts of military material were deposited as proposed in the theoretical framework. Moreover, it is possible to determine the siege method deployed. However, only if there can be differentiated between the destruction of a castle and a siege. Furthermore, it can be concluded that there is a differentiation in military role of the three castle types. However, this differentiation is not induced by the difference in morphological features, but by the wealth of the castle lord owning the castle and his willingness to defend the castle.Show less
The purpose of this study is to examine gender bias and stereotypes in history books used in group 5 of Dutch elementary schools. Nine books from six different publishers were sampled that have...Show moreThe purpose of this study is to examine gender bias and stereotypes in history books used in group 5 of Dutch elementary schools. Nine books from six different publishers were sampled that have been used during the school year 2015-2016. Activities of each character from these books are examined individually by looking at the type of activity, the posture of the individual, the position in the frame and the locality. The time frame of the images are from the periods of “hunters and farmers”, “Greeks and Romans”, “monks and knights” up to and including “cities and states”, as defined by the Committee for the Development of the Dutch Canon. Men are overrepresented in general, portrayed in diverse, active and public roles. Women, children and the elderly are underrepresented, and often in gender stereotypical manners. After establishing male bias in the reconstructions, ample archaeological evidence is provided for alternative gender representations in the past. Despite more than thirty years of feminist inspired archaeological research, reconstructions are still androcentric and reinforce current socio-cultural defined gender norms that disadvantages the representation of women and minorities, but men as well. It is imperative that gender archaeology is incorporated in archaeological epistemology, whereby different constituents involved in writing historic curriculum are informed of relevant developments within our science.Show less
