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Defining Banjo Enclosures: Investigations, Interpretations, and Understanding in the Iron Age of Southern Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2016

Alexander T.O. Lang
Alexander T.O. Lang*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD Email: definingbanjos@gmail.com
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Abstract

Banjo enclosures are an important archaeological site type within British Iron Age studies, particularly for southern England. Significant numbers of these sites have been discovered through aerial survey but only a comparatively small number have been explored through additional survey and excavation. Chronologically these sites wholly exist within the Middle and Late Iron Age periods, c. 400 bc to ad 43. As yet there has been no standard interpretive framework for these sites and our understanding and discussion has often been based on the theoretical model most popular at the time of investigation. A key aim of his paper is to question this piecemeal approach and incorporate more recent interpretations from a much-expanded dataset. Since the 1990s large-scale landscape surveys have increased considerably the numbers of sites identified and subsequently the regions in which they are located. Tying this in with recent excavations, we have begun to redefine our understanding of banjo enclosures as more complex in their site development and function, while also providing a simplified framework which accounts for the diversity of forms, locations, and relative associations. Ultimately these enclosures are more complex than previously realised, potentially serving a multiplicity of functions with different phases of use throughout a period of significant change at the end of prehistory.

Résumé

Définition des enclos banjo: recherches, interprétations et compréhension à l’âge du fer dans le sud de la Grande-Bretagne, d’Alexander T.O. Lang

Les enclos banjo représentent un important site-type archéologique dans les études de l’âge du fer, particulièrement dans le sud de l’Angleterre. Un grand nombre de ces sites ont été découverts grâce à des prospections aériennes mais seulement un nombre comparativement petit a été exploré au moyen d’autres prospections et de fouilles. Chronologiquement ces sites se.situent entièrement dans les périodes de l’âge du fer moyen et tardif, vers 400 av.J.-C. à 43 ap.J.-C.. A ce jour, il n’existe pas de cadre d’interprétation standard pour ces sites et notre compréhension et notre discussion reposaient souvent sur le modèle théorique le plus populaire au moment de l’investigation. Un objectif clé de cet article est de remettre en question cette approche fragmentée et d’incorporer des interprétations plus récentes reposant sur un sensemble de données beaucoup plus étendu. Depuis les années 1990, les prospections de paysage à grande échelle ont considérablement augmenté le nombre de sites identifés et les régions où ils se situaient. En reliant cela avec de récentes excavations, nous avons commencé à redéfinir notre compréhension des enclos banjo, site complexe de développement et de fonction, tout en fournissant aussi un cadre simplifié qui tient compte de la diversité des formes, des lieux et des associations relatives. En fin de compte, ces enclos sont plus complexes que nous ne l’avions cru auparavant, assumant potentiellement de multiples fonctions avec diverses phases d’utilisation tout au long d’une période d’importants changements à la fin de la préhistoire.

Zussamenfassung

Die Definition von Banjo-Kreisanlagen: Untersuchungen, Interpretationen und Verständnis in der Eisenzeit im Süden Großbritanniens, von Alexander T.O. Lang

Banjo-Kreisanlagen stellen einen wichtigen Typ archäologischer Fundplätze in Studien zur britischen Eisenzeit dar, insbesondere im südlichen England. Eine bedeutende Anzahl solcher Fundplätze wurde durch Luftbildprospektion entdeckt, doch nur eine vergleichsweise kleine Anzahl wurde durch zusätzliche Surveys und Ausgrabungen untersucht. Chronologisch gehören diese Fundplätze klar in die Mittlere und Späte Eisenzeit, ca. 400 v. Chr. bis 43 n. Chr. Bisher gab es keinen Konsens über die Interpretation dieser Fundplätze, und unser Verständnis und unsere Diskussionen basierten oft auf jenem Modell, dass zur Zeit der jeweiligen Untersuchung gerade am populärsten war. Ein zentrales Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es deshalb, diesen stückhaften Ansatz in Frage zu stellen und jüngere Interpretationen einzubeziehen, die auf einer deutlich größeren Datengrundlage basieren. Seit den 1990er Jahren konnte durch großräumige Landschaftsaufnahmen die Zahl identifizierter Fundplätze beträchtlich vergrößert werden wie auch die Zahl der Regionen, in denen sie vorhanden sind. Mit der Verknüpfung dieser Daten mit derzeitigen Ausgrabungen haben wir begonnen unser Verständnis von Banjo-Kreisanlagen neu zu definieren, die nun als deutlich komplexer in ihrer Entwicklung und Nutzung begriffen werden können, und zugleich einen vereinfachten Interpretationsrahmen zu erstellen, der die Diversität ihrer Formen, Lokalisationen und Beziehungen berücksichtigt. Letztendlich sind diese Anlagen weit komplexer als bisher erkannt und dienten möglicherweise einer Vielzahl von Funktionen mit unterschiedlichen Nutzungsphasen während einer Periode signifikanten Wandels am Ende der Vorgeschichte.

Resumen

Definiendo los recintos de tipo “banjo”: investigaciones, interpretación y comprensión de la Edad del Hierro en el sur de Inglaterra, por Alexander T.O. Lang

Los recintos de tipo “banjo” representan un tipo importante de contextos en el estudio de la Edad del Hierro en Inglaterra, particularmente en el sur de Inglaterra. Un elevado número de estos sitios ha sido descubierto mediante prospección aérea pero sólo un reducido número de ellos ha sido explorado mediante técnicas adicionales y excavación. Cronológicamente estos sitios solamente existen durante los períodos medio y tardío de la Edad del Hierro, c. 400 bc al ad 43. Por ello, no se ha propuesto un marco interpretativo para estos sitios y nuestra interpretación y discusión sobre ellos a menudo se ha basado en los modelos teóricos dominantes en el momento de su investigación. Un aspecto importante en este artículo es cuestionar este enfoque fragmentario e incorporar las interpretaciones más recientes basadas en un conjunto de datos más extensos. Desde los años 1990 las prospecciones del paisaje a gran escala han incrementado considerablemente el número de sitios identificados y las regiones en las que éstos se localizan. Aunando esto con las excavaciones recientes, comienza a redefinirse nuestra comprensión de los recintos tipos “banjo”, como realidades más complejas en el desarrollo y función de los sitios al tiempo que se facilitan marcos interpretativos más sencillos que explican la diversidad de formas, localizaciones y asociaciones relativas. En definitiva, estos recintos son más complejos que lo considerado previamente, sirviendo potencialmente para múltiples funciones en diferentes fases de uso a lo largo de un período de cambios significativos al final de la Prehistoria.

Keywords

Iron Agesouthern Britainbanjo enclosuresaerial surveyIron Age settlementIron Age agriculture
Type
Articles
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 82 , December 2016 , pp. 341 - 361
Copyright
© The Prehistoric Society 2016 

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