Arenas of Action? Enclosure Entrances in Neolithic Western Francec. 3500–2500 BC

Abstract

Recent research has led to a re-evaluation of the defensive role formerly assigned to the Late Neolithic enclosures of western France. Excavation of the distinctive pince de crabe entrances which are a feature of many of these enclosures has suggested that these were not single but multi-phase structures, with a purpose which must have been monumental or ceremonial rather than protective. Human remains in the enclosure ditches underline their significance as symbolic as well as physical boundaries. The chronology of the elaborated entrances indicates that they belong to a period of social competition in which decorated pottery had a particular importance. This phase came to an end early in the 3rd millennium BC when the enclosure ditches were backfilled, and western France became integrated into a wider world of social and raw material exchange.

The Mega-Site of Valencina de la Concepción (Seville, Spain): Debating Settlement Form, Monumentality and Aggregation in Southern Iberian Copper Age Societies

“…In a few cases, traces of long houses have been found in the interiors, and many have yielded human remains either as complete burials or isolated elements from the ditches, but the most distinctive surviving cultural material is the elaborated decorated pottery with 'oculi' motifs and tunnel handles. The assemblages from these sites do not bear comparison with those of the contemporary Iberian enclosures, either in the exotic nature of the raw materials (relatively limited) nor in the range of symbolic artefacts (absence of figurines), but the complex entrances and elaborate ceramics suggest these were arenas for display and social competition, constantly being reworked, rather than enclosed villages (Scarre 1998;Burnez and Louboutin 2002). They draw to mind the successive ditch circuits and scalloped plans at Iberian sites such as Perdigões.…”

Recintos De Fosos Tardíos en El Complexo Arqueológico Dos PERDIGÕES.CONSIDERACIONES Finales

“…(epígrafe 7.3.1) (Whittle et al 2011;2022), (p.e. Smith 1971Evans 1988;Madsen 1988;Mordant y Mordant 1988;Edmonds 1993;Scarre 1998;Darvill y Thomas 2001;Oswald et al 2001;Thorpe 2001;Andersen 2002;Braasch 2002;Varndell y Topping 2002;Whittle et al Figura 28. 2011;Wunderlich et al 2019;Last 2022).…”

Complexo arqueológico Dos Perdigões. Reguengos de Monsaraz, (Portugal): EL SECTOR L1: Actuaciones arqueológicas de la Universidad de Málaga (2008-2016)

“…Es decir, son un elemento más de un proceso de monumentalización bien conocido en el occidente europeo y que afecta, especialmente, a toda su fachada atlántica (p.e. Smith 1971;Evans 1988;Madsen 1988;Mordant y Mordant 1988;Edmonds 1993;Scarre 1998;Darvill y Thomas 2001;Oswald et al 2001;Thorpe 2001;Andersen 2002;Braasch 2002;Varndell y Topping 2002;Whittle et al Figura 28. MDT de los recintos configurados por fosos 1 y 2.…”