Peter Wise

Peter Wise

Postgraduate

Email: pwise01@qub.ac.uk

Address

School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP)
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland, UK

Telephone

+353/0 91-448299

Current Research: Past Cultural Change

Irish Linear Earthworks

The thrust of the research is expected to revolve around travelling linear earthworks. These are of two types: one typically consists of a single high flat-topped bank surrounded by deep v-shaped ditches and sometimes other ditches or banks. A second type of travelling linear earthwork is more typically a deep v-shaped ditch surrounded by one or two low banks, possibly just formed from spoil from the ditch. Both these types typically “travel” for many kilometres across the landscape and both are classified as just “linear earthwork”. To further confound the term, processional linear earthworks, that are typically shorter flat “avenue” type features with low banks and often shallow internal ditches (which seem more akin to cursus monuments or cursii, but may or may not be Neolithic) are also often classified as just “linear earthworks” as, sometimes, are sunken droveways of any date.

So, firstly linear earthworks and cursii need to be treated as continuum and classified by morphology and date.

The dating evidence we have for the few travelling linear earthworks dated so far suggests that they were built in the Iron Age around 100 BCE. So, if travelling linear earthworks or just some particular types of linear earthwork can be clearly be associated with the Iron Age, we may be that bit closer to understanding why such large undertakings were deemed necessary and so maybe closer to understanding the “Enigma of the Irish Iron Age” as the late Barry Raftery put it. That enigma, in brief, is where are the remains of the Iron Age people and their dwellings, remains and sites that even recent road-building programmes have failed to discover?

 

When we think of massive banks and ditches, we think of defence, control or ostentatious boundary markers (surprisingly, even military-minded archaeologist, Sir Mortimer Wheeler thought that about the ones in north Yorkshire). Yet, none of these explanations perfectly fits their placement in the landscape, sometimes in valleys, where they cannot be seen or over (not between) bogs. The border ones almost always travel between rivers or lakes. In my research masters, I suggested portage as a novel hypothesis. Will this hold true for the whole of Ireland? Will another function become a further possibility?

Additional Information:

Masters Research

Wise, P. (2006) Northern Linear Earthworks: Reassessing their Function in the Irish Iron Age Landscape Using GIS Techniques. Unpublished M.Litt. Dissertation, Department of Geography, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Prior to working in archaeology and GIS, I was a Software Engineer with 38 years experience in the computing industry, mainly on telecommunications and process control systems.