A Polythetic Analysis of the Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age within the “Irish Sea Province”.

This study will investigate both social organisation and the roles of the dead/ancestors during the LN-EBA within four sub-regions of the “Irish Sea Province”. The methodology and theoretical framework draw upon chaos–complexity theory and the research will incorporate GIS mapping and various forms of both statistical analysis and modelling. The data to be considered consists of habitation evidence, artefact depositions, monuments and burials. These data-sets will be analyzed within an interpretive framework incorporating climatic/environmental conditions, landscape context, the roles of the dead/ancestors and social organisation. In combination these threads of research seek to bring new clarity to our understanding of the Irish Sea Province during the LN-EBA period.

The research areas are geographically defined and bordered by sea, mountains and bogland areas, viz. (a) central-eastern Ireland south of the Cooley/Mourne Mountains, north of the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains, and east of the central boglands; (b) the Isle of Mann; (c) Anglesey; (d) the area of lowland western England stretching from Cheshire to Lancashire. The primary study area is eastern Ireland and the patterns established within this zone will be compared with the available information from the other sub-regions.