A Statistical Analysis of Ringfort Distribution and Morphology on the ...

Chapter 1: Introduction
was partly in response to Clarke’s own work on theoretical modelling in archaeology, along with the
development <strong>of</strong> Chisholm’s ‘Catchment Area’ concept by Vita-Finzi <strong>and</strong> Higgs. 1
In Analytical Archaeology, Clarke describes technical developments borrowed <strong>and</strong> adapted from other
disciplines <strong>and</strong> outlines various means by which they may be applied to archaeological data. 2 In the
posthumously published Spatial Archaeology Clarke, in a series <strong>of</strong> essays, sets out a theoretical
framework for the discipline, but laments that the growth <strong>of</strong> spatial analysis has been dogged by
inadequate research <strong>and</strong> its slow acceptance by archaeology as a whole:
‘It has ... been as characteristic <strong>of</strong> this area <strong>of</strong> archaeological disciplinary
development as any other that important steps in the retrieval <strong>of</strong> information from
spatial relationships in archaeological contexts have been dispersed, disaggregated
<strong>and</strong> dissipated ... In addition, the analyses <strong>of</strong> spatial information in archaeology for a
long time tended to remain either inexplicit, intuitive, static <strong>and</strong> typological, or at
best a secondary aspect <strong>of</strong> studies devoted to other objectives.’ 3
The previous year saw the publication <strong>of</strong> Hodder <strong>and</strong> Orton’s Spatial <strong>Analysis</strong> in Archaeology. 4 In
their introduction, the authors state that the central thesis <strong>of</strong> their work ‘is to suggest to
archaeologists that there is a potential for more detailed <strong>and</strong> systematic study <strong>of</strong> spatial pattering in
archaeological data.’ 5 This is arguably one <strong>of</strong> the most important published works on spatial
relationships, not merely because it, for the first time, concentrated solely on spatial analysis, but
also that it enlarged <strong>and</strong> developed Clarke’s adoption <strong>of</strong> quantitative <strong>and</strong> statistical techniques from
other disciplines <strong>and</strong> outlined their application to archaeological data.
However, it would be misleading to suggest that the statistical <strong>and</strong> spatial approach to archaeology
was universally <strong>and</strong> readily accepted within the pr<strong>of</strong>ession. As mentioned above Clarke indicated
some <strong>of</strong> the problems within this field <strong>of</strong> specification. 6 Other commentators were more forceful in
decrying the apparent ‘invasion’ <strong>of</strong> archaeology the scientific <strong>and</strong> statistical techniques championed by
‘new archaeology.’ 7
Rosse’s study <strong>of</strong> Neolithic <strong>and</strong> Bronze Age monuments <strong>of</strong> Wales centres on the economic
determinants <strong>of</strong> the location <strong>of</strong> various sites <strong>and</strong> communities. He notes that the success that such
groups achieved was dependent on a multitude <strong>of</strong> interrelated economic variables. Among these he
includes relief, topography <strong>and</strong> water supply along with vegetational <strong>and</strong> geographical factors. 8
Davidson’s investigation <strong>of</strong> the isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> Rousay in the Orkneys indicated that, in tomb location,
paramount importance was given to the twin considerations <strong>of</strong> access to the sea <strong>and</strong> the availability
<strong>of</strong> a comm<strong>and</strong>ing location. He also concludes that the tomb builders were not influenced by the
quality <strong>of</strong> the available soils to anything approaching the same extent as appears to be the case in
Wales. 9
As part <strong>of</strong> Faull <strong>and</strong> Moorhouse’s archaeological survey <strong>of</strong> West Yorkshire they consider apparently
nucleated settlements which are known to have existed before 1086 <strong>and</strong> their relationships to the
1 Clarke 1968; 1972; Chisholm 1968; Vita-Finzi <strong>and</strong> Higgs 1970.
2 Clarke 1968.
3 Clarke 1977, 4-5.
4 Hodder & Orton 1976.
5 Op. cit. 1.
6 Clarke ibid.
7 cf Hawkes 1968.
8 Rosse 1979 cited in Henry 1989, 107.
9 Davidson 1979.
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