This article is about the Bronze Age archaeological culture in southern Britain. For the later medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom, see Wessex.
The Wessex culture is the predominant prehistoric culture of central and southern Britain during the early Bronze Age, originally defined by the British archaeologist Stuart Piggott in 1938.[1]
The culture is related to the Hilversum culture of the southern Netherlands, Belgium and northern France, and linked to the Armorican Tumulus culture in northern France[2] and the Unetice culture in central Germany. It is prototyped with the Middle Rhine group of the Bell Beaker culture and commonly subdivided in the consecutive phases of Wessex I (2000–1650 BC) and Wessex II (1650–1400). Piggott attributes the origin of this culture to an "actual ethnic movement" from Northern France.[3] Piggott describes the culture as composed of an underlying substratum, similar to the contemporary food vessel culture found further north, and an intrusive ruling class who opened trading networks with France and central and northern Europe, and imported bronze tools and probably also artisans.[4]
The first phase, Wessex I, is characterised by rich depositions in the graves of chieftains, including gold artifacts, and crouched inhumations under barrows (e.g. the Bush Barrow).[5] This period is closely associated with the construction and use of the later phases of Stonehenge.[6] The second phase, Wessex II, is characterised by less rich grave goods without gold and a resurgence of cremations, believed to be a return to the previous funerary practices of the British Neolithic.[5] They appear to have had wide ranging trade links with continental Europe, importing amber from the Baltic, jewellery from modern day Germany, gold from Brittany as well as daggers and beads from Mycenaean Greece and vice versa. They produced characteristic pendants in the shape of halberds, with handles made from gold or amber, or a combination of these materials.[7]
It has been speculated that river transport allowed Wessex to be the main link to the Severn estuary.[8] The wealth from such trade probably permitted the Wessex people to construct the second and third (megalithic) phases of Stonehenge and also indicates a powerful form of social organisation.[9]
When the term 'Wessex Culture' was first coined, investigations into British prehistory were in their infancy and the unusually rich and well documented burials in the Wessex area loomed large in literature on the Bronze Age. During the twentieth century many more Bronze Age burials were uncovered and opinions about the nature of the early-mid Bronze Age shifted considerably. Since the late 20th century it has become customary to consider 'Wessex Culture' as a limited social stratum rather than a distinct cultural grouping, specifically referring to the hundred or so particularly richly furnished graves in and around Wiltshire. The culture group, however, is named as one of the intrusive Beaker groups that appear in Ireland.[10]
^[1] The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology – Timothy Darvill, 2002, Wessex culture, p.464, Oxford University Press, ISBN0-19-211649-5
^The Armorican Tumuli of the Early Bronze Age, A Statistic Analysis for Calling the Two Series into Question -Mareva Gabillot et al.
^Piggott, Stuart (1938). "The Early Bronze Age in Wessex". Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 4 (1): 52–106. doi:10.1017/S0079497X00021137. ISSN 0079-497X. S2CID 164075180.
^Barry W. Cunliffe, The Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe. Oxford University Press, 2001. p.254
^Horn, Christian; Kristiansen, Kristian, eds. (2018-04-26). Warfare in Bronze Age Society (1 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 53. doi:10.1017/9781316884522. ISBN978-1-316-88452-2.
^SHERRATT, ANDREW (1996). "Why Wessex? The Avon Route and River Transport in Later British Prehistory". Oxford Journal of Archaeology. 15 (2): 211–234. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0092.1996.tb00083.x.
^Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick, Wessex Culture-an elitist sub group? Wessex Archaeology, December 2012
^Ancient Ireland, Life before the Celts – Laurence Flanagan, 1998, p.83, Gil & MacMillan, ISBN0-7171-2433-9
Sourcesedit
Piggott, S 1938. The Early Bronze Age in Wessex, Proc. Prehist. Soc. 4, 52–106.
Piggott, S 1973. The Wessex culture of the Early Bronze Age, Victoria County History Wiltshire I (ii), 352-75.
Coles, John; Taylor, Joan (March 1971). "The Wessex culture: a minimal view". Antiquity. 45 (177): 6–14. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00068988. ISSN 0003-598X. S2CID 163455375.
January 01, 1970
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This article is about the Bronze Age archaeological culture in southern Britain For the later medieval Anglo Saxon kingdom see Wessex The Wessex culture is the predominant prehistoric culture of central and southern Britain during the early Bronze Age originally defined by the British archaeologist Stuart Piggott in 1938 1 Finds from the Bush Barrow at Stonehenge c 1900 BC The Mold gold cape Bronze Age about 1900 1600 BC From Mold Flintshire North Wales The culture is related to the Hilversum culture of the southern Netherlands Belgium and northern France and linked to the Armorican Tumulus culture in northern France 2 and the Unetice culture in central Germany It is prototyped with the Middle Rhine group of the Bell Beaker culture and commonly subdivided in the consecutive phases of Wessex I 2000 1650 BC and Wessex II 1650 1400 Piggott attributes the origin of this culture to an actual ethnic movement from Northern France 3 Piggott describes the culture as composed of an underlying substratum similar to the contemporary food vessel culture found further north and an intrusive ruling class who opened trading networks with France and central and northern Europe and imported bronze tools and probably also artisans 4 The first phase Wessex I is characterised by rich depositions in the graves of chieftains including gold artifacts and crouched inhumations under barrows e g the Bush Barrow 5 This period is closely associated with the construction and use of the later phases of Stonehenge 6 The second phase Wessex II is characterised by less rich grave goods without gold and a resurgence of cremations believed to be a return to the previous funerary practices of the British Neolithic 5 They appear to have had wide ranging trade links with continental Europe importing amber from the Baltic jewellery from modern day Germany gold from Brittany as well as daggers and beads from Mycenaean Greece and vice versa They produced characteristic pendants in the shape of halberds with handles made from gold or amber or a combination of these materials 7 It has been speculated that river transport allowed Wessex to be the main link to the Severn estuary 8 The wealth from such trade probably permitted the Wessex people to construct the second and third megalithic phases of Stonehenge and also indicates a powerful form of social organisation 9 When the term Wessex Culture was first coined investigations into British prehistory were in their infancy and the unusually rich and well documented burials in the Wessex area loomed large in literature on the Bronze Age During the twentieth century many more Bronze Age burials were uncovered and opinions about the nature of the early mid Bronze Age shifted considerably Since the late 20th century it has become customary to consider Wessex Culture as a limited social stratum rather than a distinct cultural grouping specifically referring to the hundred or so particularly richly furnished graves in and around Wiltshire The culture group however is named as one of the intrusive Beaker groups that appear in Ireland 10 See also editUnetice culture Argaric culture Nordic Bronze Age Ottomany culture Polada culture Wietenberg culture Sintashta culture Nuragic culture Helladic culture Mycenaean Greece Minoan civilizationNotes edit 1 The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology Timothy Darvill 2002 Wessex culture p 464 Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 211649 5 The Armorican Tumuli of the Early Bronze Age A Statistic Analysis for Calling the Two Series into Question Mareva Gabillot et al Piggott Stuart 1938 The Early Bronze Age in Wessex Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 4 1 52 106 doi 10 1017 S0079497X00021137 ISSN 0079 497X S2CID 164075180 Piggott 1938 a b Coles amp Taylor 1971 Barry W Cunliffe The Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe Oxford University Press 2001 p 254 Horn Christian Kristiansen Kristian eds 2018 04 26 Warfare in Bronze Age Society 1 ed Cambridge University Press p 53 doi 10 1017 9781316884522 ISBN 978 1 316 88452 2 SHERRATT ANDREW 1996 Why Wessex The Avon Route and River Transport in Later British Prehistory Oxford Journal of Archaeology 15 2 211 234 doi 10 1111 j 1468 0092 1996 tb00083 x Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick Wessex Culture an elitist sub group Wessex Archaeology December 2012 Ancient Ireland Life before the Celts Laurence Flanagan 1998 p 83 Gil amp MacMillan ISBN 0 7171 2433 9Sources editPiggott S 1938 The Early Bronze Age in Wessex Proc Prehist Soc 4 52 106 Piggott S 1973 The Wessex culture of the Early Bronze Age Victoria County History Wiltshire I ii 352 75 Coles John Taylor Joan March 1971 The Wessex culture a minimal view Antiquity 45 177 6 14 doi 10 1017 S0003598X00068988 ISSN 0003 598X S2CID 163455375 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wessex culture amp oldid 1214797028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
