Building in Fragments: A Non-Representational Approach to the Neolithic Architecture of Orkney

Abstract

This thesis comprises an analysis of the architecture of Neolithic Orkney via the implementation of a non-representational methodology. This methodology was devised in order to combat the epistemological problems that have affected our view of this architecture from at least the early twentieth century. Principally, although not exclusively, these problems relate to an epistemological position that has been defined in this thesis as ‘representationalism’, where the architecture in question is assumed to be, at its most fundamental level, an abstract representation as opposed to comprising physical archaeological entities. In countering this notion, the methodology underpinning this thesis attempts to consider the material constitution of this architecture first, before building up to an abstract representation or hypothesis. In this way, a heavily contextualised description of Neolithic architecture emerges from the ground up. In order to achieve this, the architecture of Neolithic Orkney is fragmented into its constituent parts, and each part is analysed in its own right, without assuming that it formed part of a representational whole from the very beginning. These constituent parts include: hearths, entrances, dressers and recesses. Moreover, a prime degree of focus is placed on how these constituent parts evolved over time. Overall, it is argued that the coming together of domestic and mortuary traditions propelled the development of architecture throughout Neolithic Orkney. In particular, the role of the midfourth Millennium BC stalled tomb is emphasised, as the architectural repertoire of these tombs provided a template for future architectural construction. Ultimately, these findings are only made possible through the implementation of non-representationalism and fragmentation.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Carl Pollard: orcid.org/0000-0002-8429-2009

ORCID for Fraser Sturt: orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-990X

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