Megasites in Prehistoric Europe : Where Strangers and Kinsfolk Met Paperback / softback

by Bisserka (Durham University) Gaydarska, John (Durham University) Chapman

Part of the Elements in the Archaeology of Europe series

Paperback / softback

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This is an Element about some of the largest sites known in prehistoric Europe â€“ sites so vast that they often remain undiscussed for lack of the theoretical or methodological tools required for their understanding.

Here, the authors use a relational, comparative approach to identify not only what made megasites but also what made megasites so special and so large.

They have selected a sample of megasites in each major period of prehistory â€“ Neolithic, Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages â€“ with a detailed examination of a single representative megasite for each period.

The relational approach makes explicit comparisons between smaller, more 'normal' sites and the megasites using six criteria â€“ scale, temporality, deposition / monumentality, formal open spaces, performance and congregational catchment.

The authors argue that many of the largest European prehistoric megasites were congregational places.