ABSTRACT

This volume explores why natural places such as caves, mountains, springs and rivers assumed a sacred character in European prehistory, and how the evidence for this can be analysed in the field. It shows how established research on votive deposits, rock art and production sites can contribute to a more imaginative approach to the prehistoric landscape, and can even shed light on the origins of monumental architecture. The discussion is illustrated through a wide range of European examples, and three extended case studies.
An Archaeology of Natural Places extends the range of landscape studies and makes the results of modern research accessible to a wider audience, including students and academics, field archaeologists, and those working in heritage management.

part |44 pages

Introductions

chapter |15 pages

In the cave of thunder

Sacred places in a northern landscape

chapter |15 pages

Overworlds and underworlds

Sacred places in a Classical landscape

chapter |12 pages

Nature study

The archaeological potential of unaltered places

part |69 pages

Explorations

chapter |17 pages

Presenting arms

The locations of votive deposits in prehistoric Europe

chapter |17 pages

Seeing through stone

Rock art research as landscape archaeology

chapter |16 pages

The movement of mountains

Production sites and the archaeology of places

chapter |17 pages

The origin of spaces

Monuments and the natural topography

part |47 pages

Interpretations

chapter |15 pages

The history of the world

A case study from Neolithic Britain

chapter |15 pages

Walking on water

A case study from Bronze Age Scandinavia

chapter |15 pages

A long-playing record

The significance of natural places in later prehistoric Europe