Central Places in a Rural Archaeological Landscape

Bibliographic Data

ID4627666
AuthorsMichelle Comber (Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume21
Issue36
Pages1-12
Publication date2018-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of the North Atlantic (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1935-1933 • E-ISSN: 1935-1933
PublisherJournal of the North Atlantic (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3721/037.006.3601
OpenAlexW2896575132
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited5

Archaeological survey in western Ireland has identified the existence of clusters of activity within the mapped landscapes of the 5th to 12th centuries A.D. Exploring this further, it is possible to identify elements characteristic of such clusters, and discuss the possible significance of such places. The basics of German geographer Walter Christallers Central Place Theory provide an interesting analytical tool in this regard. Although a spatial theory developed in the study of urban geography, some elements of Christaller's work have been applied to urban archaeological landscapes in recent times. Their application in the rural ringfort landscapes of western Ireland proves an interesting exercise, one that suggests that Central Places also existed in more dispersed, rural communities in Early Medieval Ireland

Archaeology · Economic geography · Geographer · Geography · German · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Historical and Archaeological Studies

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub