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Stouts ringfort hypothesis

  • 21-04-2008 4:27pm
    #1
    Lockstep
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,031 ✭✭✭


    Our archaeology lecturer mentioned Matthew Stout's ringfort hypothesis a few times,

    I got the book out and read through it but was unable to find a clear account of the hypothesis.

    The theory (as I understand it) is something along the lines of the location of ringforts being relative to their status (powerful ringforts in the middle, proximity meant neighbours could come to your aid in the event of an attack etc)

    Would anyone be able to expand on this for me?


Comments

  • #2
    Saabdub
    Closed Accounts Posts: 228 ✭✭Saabdub


    Ringforts of higher status (more land and followers contributing labour) indicated by multiple banks and ditches as well as souterrains are often sited on better soils and are rarer. Bog-standard univalltae sites are much more common, probably indicate lower status (less land and followers). Ringforts with very large interiors on the frontiers of territories may be the establishments of military class. The large interiors intended to accommodate the military men and horses of the sept during a muster and as a base for operations into another territory or to meet to repel a raid. Sometimes promontory forts could serve this purpose.

    Most people however live on lands at the pleasure of the Ri in wattle and daub or clay walled houses without any physical protection from banks and ditches and had to hide in bogs or mountains with their livestock and belongings if attacked.

    Saabdub


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