Rethinking Roundhouses: Later Prehistoric Settlement in Britain and Beyond

Excavated plans of roundhouses show multiple episodes of activity, design, construction, occupation, repair, and closure, reflecting successive stages of a building's biography. The diversity in structural components suggests a greater diversity of superstructure than was implied by the classic Wessex roundhouses, including split-level roofs and penannular ridge roofs. Morphological classification should not override the social use of space for which the buildings were designed, and larger houses were byre-houses or barn houses, serving community needs beyond those of the resident extended family. The massively-increased scale of development-led excavations has resulted in an increased database that enables evaluation of individual sites in a wider landscape environment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Excavated plans of roundhouses provide a wealth of information about the various stages of a building's life, from its design and construction to its occupation, repair, and eventual closure. These plans reveal not only the physical characteristics of the roundhouses but also the sequence of events that shaped their development.

While some aspects of a building's history may not survive archaeologically, such as the use of materials or methods that leave no tangible trace, they can still be crucial for reconstruction. Contextual information and comparative evidence can help fill in the gaps and provide insights into the life of these structures.

One of the most striking features of roundhouses is the great diversity in their structural components. These buildings were constructed using a wide range of materials, including stone, wood, and thatch. The variety of roofing styles, such as split-level roofs and penannular ridge roofs, suggests a greater diversity of superstructure than was previously thought.

In the Atlantic region, stone-built houses exhibited regional and chronological variations in the radial roundhouse series, as well as within the monumental Atlantic roundhouses themselves. The recognition of these structural variants is important for understanding the evolution of roundhouse design and construction.

However, it is crucial to remember that morphological classification should not override the social use of space for which these buildings were designed. Whether their structural footprint was round or rectangular, roundhouses were designed to meet the needs of their communities.

Atlantic roundhouses, in particular, reveal an important division between central space and peripheral space. This division is also evident in lowland timber roundhouses, where the surviving evidence is more ephemeral. Some larger houses were evidently byre-houses or barn houses, with upper or mezzanine floor levels, in which livestock might be brought in or agricultural produce stored. These great houses undoubtedly served community needs beyond those of the resident extended family.

The massively-increased scale of development-led excavations of recent years has resulted in an increased database that enables evaluation of individual sites in a wider landscape environment than was previously possible. This database includes information on the spatial distribution of roundhouses, their relationship to other structures, and their cultural significance.

In conclusion, excavated plans of roundhouses provide valuable insights into the life of these structures, from their design and construction to their occupation, repair, and closure. While some aspects of a building's history may not survive archaeologically, they can still be crucial for reconstruction. The diversity in structural components, roofing styles, and regional variations in roundhouse design and construction highlight the social and cultural significance of these buildings. The increased database and evaluation tools available enable a more comprehensive understanding of individual sites and their place in the wider landscape.

Weight: 644g
Dimension: 161 x 243 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192893802