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Rethinking the ‘Cursus Problem’ – Investigating the Neolithic Landscape Archaeology of Rudston, East Yorkshire, UK, using GIS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Henry P. Chapman
Henry P. Chapman
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX
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Abstract

In terms of their interpretation, cursus monuments remain arguably the most enigmatic class of Neolithic landscape monument. This paper reconsiders this ‘cursus problem’ through the study of the complex of cursuses that surrounds the village of Rudston, East Yorkshire. Using a GIS-based analysis, it is argued that two distinct forms of architecture can be recognised. In the earlier phase it is possible to recognise the importance of somatic experience generated through movement along the interior of the monuments, incorporating elements of visual surprise in addition to constant visual relationships with earlier monuments. By the later phase, somatic experience becomes less important, with the cursus forming a more naturalised role in harmony with the natural landscape and less structured for movement. The results of this analysis have wider implications for the study of both cursus landscapes elsewhere and prehistoric landscape archaeology more generally.

Résumé

En matière d'interprétation, on peut argumenter que les monuments à allée avec fossés demeurent la catégorie la plus énigmatique des monuments du paysage néolithique. Cet article rééxamine ce problème des ‘allées avec fossés’ à la lumière d'une étude du complexe d'allées qui entoure le village de Ruston, dans l'East Yorkshire. En utilisant une analyse basée sur le système GIS, on émet l'hypothèse qu'on peut reconnaitre deux formes distinctes d'architecture. Dans la phase la plus ancienne, on peut reconnaitre l'importance de l'expérience somatique générée par le mouvement le long de l'intérieur des monuments, incorporant des éléments de surprise visuelle qui viennent s'ajouter aux liens visuels constants avec les monuments plus anciens. A la phase plus tardive, l'expérience somatique devient moins importante, l'allée avec fossés assumant alors un rôle plus naturalisé, en harmonie avec le paysage naturel et moins structuré pour le mouvement. Les résultats de cette analyse ont des implications plus étendues pour l'étude de ces deux types de paysages à allée avec fossés dans d'autres lieux, et plus généralement, pour l'archéologie du paysage préhistorique.

Zusammenfassung

Im Hinblick auf ihre Interpretation bleiben die Cursus-Monumente wohl die rätselhafteste Kategorie Neolithischer Landschaftsdenkmäler. In diesem Beitrag wird das ‘Cursus Problem’ durch eine Untersuchung des Cursus-Komplexes um das Dorf Rudston, East Yorkshire neu bewertet. Mit Hilfe einer GIS-gestützten Analyse, wird dargelegt, dass zwei unterschiedliche Architekturformen erkannt werden können. In der früheren Phase kann man die Bedeutung von körperlicher Erfahrung verstehen, die durch das sich Bewegen im Inneren der Monumente erzeugt wird, und die Elemente von visuellem Erstaunen zusätzlich zu den konstanten visuellen Verbindungen zu früheren Monumenten einschließt. Während der späteren Phase verliert diese körperliche Erfahrung an Bedeutung; der Cursus spielt eine naturalisierende Rolle, die sich im Einklang mit der natürlichen Landschaft befindet und für das sich Bewegen zu wenig strukturiert ist. Die Ergebnisse dieser Analyse haben weit reichende Implikationen für weitere Untersuchungen anderer Cursus-Landschaften und für die prähistorische Landschaftsarchäologie im Allgemeinen.

Résumen

Por lo que se refiere a su interpretación, los monumentos cursus son quizás uno de los más enigmáticos tipos de monumentos de paisaje neolíticos. Este trabajo reconsidera el ‘problema del cursus’ a través de un estudio del complejo de cursus que rodea el pueblo de Rudston, en East Yorkshire. Utilizando un análisis basado en GIS, se arguye que es posible reconocer dos formas distintas de arquitectura. En la primera fase es posible reconocer la importancia de la experiencia somática generada por el movimiento a lo largo del interior de los monumentos, incorporando elementos de sorpresa visual y constantes relaciones visuales con monumentos más tempranos. En la última fase, la experiencia somática es menos importante, y el cursus toma un papel más naturalizado, en armonía con el paisaje natural, y menos estructurado hacia el movimiento. Los resultados de este análisis tienen implicaciones más amplias para el estudio tanto de los paisajes con cursus en otras zonas como de la arqueología prehistórica del paisaje de modo más general.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 71 , 2005 , pp. 159 - 170
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2005

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