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

Chapter 1: Introduction
In 1997 Stout followed up this research with the publication <strong>of</strong> The Irish <strong>Ringfort</strong>. Here he brings to
bear the statistical approach that he had earlier applied to the ringforts <strong>of</strong> the south-west midl<strong>and</strong>s to
the study <strong>of</strong> the sites on a nation-wide scale. He argues for the reduction <strong>of</strong> the period <strong>of</strong> ringfort
construction to c.600 to c.800 AD <strong>and</strong> that their near simultaneous occupation. 1 The main
contribution <strong>of</strong> this work is its discussion on ringfort distribution on a national level. Stout divides the
country into areas <strong>of</strong> low, median, high <strong>and</strong> very high ringfort density. However, Lynn notes that such
divisions ‘... may obscure the possibility that some communities or regions containing “spatially
related” ringforts may have included areas with considerable variation in density even if other
environmental factors appear constant’. 2 Stout’s study culminates with the proposal, as in his
previous paper, that a study <strong>of</strong> ringfort morphology may be used to determine the social status <strong>of</strong> the
sites’ inhabitants. However, Lynn sees many problems with such an approach, especially when
attempting to apply the rational to sites on the l<strong>and</strong>scape as the ability to assign individual ringforts
to various social grades is at an embryonic stage.
It may be seen from the foregoing review <strong>of</strong> the development <strong>of</strong> the statistical approach to l<strong>and</strong>scape
archaeology that the theoretical <strong>and</strong> methodological aspect has evolved substantially since its first
inception. In general terms, the discipline has moved from being largely intuitive to one heavily
statistical in orientation. Indeed, the majority <strong>of</strong> studies have been almost completely statistically
based. However, with the development <strong>of</strong> post-processualism in the late 1980s opinion has shifted
substantially in the opposite direction, once again towards a more intuitive approach. Nonetheless, it
is my opinion that a possibly more rewarding avenue <strong>of</strong> study is the balanced combination <strong>of</strong> these
two approaches. Such a fusion <strong>of</strong> objective <strong>and</strong> intuitive methods is, however, far from revolutionary.
In many ways such a balanced approach may be viewed as a practical realisation <strong>of</strong> Sir Mortimer
Wheeler’s definition <strong>of</strong> archaeology: ‘... most human <strong>of</strong> sciences, most scientific <strong>of</strong> humanities ...’. 3
With regard to the development <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape archaeology in Irel<strong>and</strong>, it is obvious that, in comparison
to Britain, the approach has largely kept pace <strong>and</strong> developed in parallel. However, in Irel<strong>and</strong> as
elsewhere, the major focus <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape archaeology is still firmly fixed on prehistoric studies. The
few exceptions to this general rule have been noted above. This situation makes it difficult in the
extreme to formulate a viable survey <strong>and</strong> analytical methodology for the West Clare study area. This
problem is further compounded in that the majority <strong>of</strong> modern l<strong>and</strong>scape studies seem to suggest
that the integration <strong>of</strong> excavated evidence is <strong>of</strong> paramount importance to the whole nature <strong>of</strong> the
project. This presents a special difficulty in the West Clare region as no sites, <strong>of</strong> any date, have been
subject to archaeological excavation. With these limitations in mind, <strong>and</strong> the underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> the
limitations <strong>of</strong> interpretation possible in any field survey, I believe that an effective <strong>and</strong>
archaeologically meaningful analysis <strong>of</strong> the spatial distribution patterns <strong>of</strong> ringforts in the West Clare
region is a viable goal.
1.6 Summary
This chapter presents a general introduction to the Loop Head peninsula study area in west county
Clare. The aims <strong>of</strong> this thesis are outlined along with the research aims which have been addressed
<strong>and</strong> the methods employed. A brief history <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape archaeology in Britain <strong>and</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong> is also
presented. Within this framework, special reference is given to the development <strong>of</strong> statistical studies
<strong>of</strong> ringforts.
1 Stout 1997, 24.
2 Lynn 1997, 33.
3 Wheeler 1963, 18.
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