ABSTRACT
The monumental traditions discussed in this book cover a period of over 2000 years, and one of the most interesting aspects of the data is the evidence for change through time. In many areas of Europe, it is difficult to compare the evidence for one phase with that for another, since these phases are often marked by different categories of evidence (e.g. megalithic tombs from one phase, large settlements from another) which give information on different aspects of prehistoric life. This poses serious problems for any attempt to establish a diachronic synthesis. The archaeological record is always incomplete and, for the Armorican Neolithic, it is principally settlement evidence that is lacking. This will, of course, bias our understanding of Armorican Neolithic societies: Man may not live by bread alone, but people have nevertheless to eat, reproduce and raise children as well as worshipping their gods and burying their dead. We have a considerable amount of information on the religion and burial practices of Armorican Neolithic communities, but we can say very little about their economy and daily life, and we can only hope that future excavations will rectify this imbalance.
