Peter Herring - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Peter Herring

Prehistoric Extractive Metallurgy in Cornwall, 1997

A paper that questions the presumption that archaeologists will eventually find extensive evidenc... more A paper that questions the presumption that archaeologists will eventually find extensive evidence of Bronze Age tin extraction in SW Britain. Instead it is suggested that elites in an agricultural economy would have an interest in containing tin extraction in order to maintain the prestige of bronze. Higher levels of tin exploitation may be anticipated in later prehistory, the time of Ictis.

Cornish Archaeology, 2016

Survey and interpretation of the early Neolithic cromlech, or simple chambered tomb, that gave it... more Survey and interpretation of the early Neolithic cromlech, or simple chambered tomb, that gave its name to the medieval settlement of Grumbla in Sancreed in west Cornwall. Grumbla Quoit, as it is known in the archaeological literature, was partially dismantled in the early 19th century when transformed into a small cottage. Its remains were recognised by the late Peter Pool, who requested it be scheduled. It is unusual among west Cornish chambered tombs in being low-lying, but appears to have been typical in being a simple box of four tall slabs supporting a large capstone.

Journal of Archaeological Science, 1986

This paper describes an experiment which investigates the possibility that stone circles were lai... more This paper describes an experiment which investigates the possibility that stone circles were laid out by eye rather than being geometrically planned. Over 100 simulated stone circles were built and hence a data set of known layout method was generated for comparison with stone circles. The results illustrate that no distinction can be made between the hypotheses. Examination of other architectural traits and geographical distributions suggest, however, that simple laying out procedures, as opposed to the more complex geometries proposed by Thom are more appropriate for stone circles in Britain. Key words; BRITAIN. NEOLITHIC/'BRONZE AGE. STONE CIRCLES, DESIGN. GEOMETRY, PERCEPTION OF CIRCULARITY.

Landscape Archaeology between Art and Science

Thanks to Bernard and Sandra Lawrey, farmers at Foage, for access; to Jon Brookes (warden) and Pa... more Thanks to Bernard and Sandra Lawrey, farmers at Foage, for access; to Jon Brookes (warden) and Paul Hughes (student warden) of the National Trust for arranging the recording and for helping on site respectively; to Alan Matthews, Alan and Jamie the excavators; to Vanessa Straker for agreeing to look at the soil samples; and to Jenny McLynn for word-processing.

Cornwall and Scilly Urban Survey, 2005

Historic characterisation and assessment of significance of the medieval town of Camelford in nor... more Historic characterisation and assessment of significance of the medieval town of Camelford in north Cornwall.

Cornish Archaeology, 1993

Close examination, with Della Hooke, of the clauses in a 1049 charter's boundary charter throws l... more Close examination, with Della Hooke, of the clauses in a 1049 charter's boundary charter throws light on to several aspects of pre-Norman Cornwall, including its land use, strip fields, use of commons, mills, and highways and subsidiary lanes. The farming hamlet of Trerice, a tre-estate, had already been divided into two parts by 1049.

Cornish Archaeology, 1993

Examination of a substantial lynchetted field boundary, part of a Romano-British field system ass... more Examination of a substantial lynchetted field boundary, part of a Romano-British field system associated with a courtyard house settlement. Sections through it recorded the development and partial removal of the lynchet, a preceding bank, and a buried soil whose pollen was examined by Vanessa Straker, Keith Crabtree and S West. That showed an open pastoral landscape. The biography of the lynchet included the late 19C work done in the field by farmer-diarist James Stevens.

Cornish Archaeology, 1992

Rare opportunity to field walk on Bodmin Moor, a granite upland in Cornwall, yielded a dense patt... more Rare opportunity to field walk on Bodmin Moor, a granite upland in Cornwall, yielded a dense pattern of small scatters of mainly Mesolithic flint knapping sites, small activity areas. A similar density of spread across all of Bodmin Moor would suggest around 140,000 such scatters would exist on the Moor.
The paper also describes and discusses other flint scatters found on the Moor, including along the shores of the several reservoirs and in areas of disturbed ground such as gateways and approaching fords. Here later flints (Neolithic and Bronze Age) have also been found,

Cornish Archaeology, 1989

Review of various interpretations of an unusual earthwork at the summit of Kit Hill in east Cornw... more Review of various interpretations of an unusual earthwork at the summit of Kit Hill in east Cornwall. Recent historical research confirms it was built as a folly, a representation of an early medieval stronghold to commemorate the Battle of Hingston Down, when the Cornish were defeated by the English in 838.
With discussion of its builder, Sir John Call, written by Alexander Forsyth.

Cornish Archaeology, 1993

Summary of first modern survey and research into the archaeology of an iconic Cornish place, the ... more Summary of first modern survey and research into the archaeology of an iconic Cornish place, the Mount. From late prehistoric tin-trading port, through medieval castle, priory and harbour to early modern and recent stately home, ornamental landscape and working harbour.

Landscape Archaeology, between Art and Science, proceedings of first Landscape Archaeology Conference (Amsterdam), 2012

Designing sustainable futures through better understanding the past requires inclusivity: all soc... more Designing sustainable futures through better understanding the past requires inclusivity: all society, all disciplines and all actors.
Paper reviews landscape archaeology practice in the UK, including inquisitive, theoretical, empirical and phenomenological approaches and discusses how these feed into broader characterisations. And considers how they enable landscape archaeologists and historians to better meet the needs and support wider society.

Cornish Archaeology, 1983

Short report on discovery of a Neolithic long cairn on Bodmin Moor. Suggested that Neolithic sett... more Short report on discovery of a Neolithic long cairn on Bodmin Moor. Suggested that Neolithic settlement and other activity may be found in similarly unspectacular locations elsewhere in Cornwall, and that further long cairns may await discovery in Cornwall.

Landscape Research, 2016

Contemporary wisdom holds that landscape research requires cross-disciplinary collaborations, and... more Contemporary wisdom holds that landscape research requires cross-disciplinary collaborations, and consideration of character has been seen as one way to achieve this, yet character-based methods of landscape assessment incline towards unidisciplinarity. This is the case in the UK, with two parallel methods in use since the early 1990s. Both have become influential across Europe in the drafting and implementation of the European Landscape Convention.
This paper, a contribution to a special issue of Landscape Research, focuses on one of the methods, Historic Landscape Characterisation (carried out mainly by archaeologists and heritage managers), and compares it with Landscape Character Assessment (used by the landscape architects and geographers) to examine the concepts of both landscape character and interdisciplinarity. It concludes that although a single integrated method for landscape assessment could be desirable, there remain benefits in having separate methods, and the process of combining parallel landscape assessments can bring research benefits.

Recent Approaches to the Archaeology of Land Allotment Edited by Adrian Chadwick, BAR International Series, 1875, 2008

Gathering together of survey records and interpretations of prehistoric fields, boundaries and pa... more Gathering together of survey records and interpretations of prehistoric fields, boundaries and pastures in Cornwall, SW Britain. From Neolithic enclosures on Bodmin Moor to Bronze Age coaxial and curvilinear fields on the uplands to Iron Age brick-shaped fields in lowland Cornwall.
What fields meant functionally and symbolically. Maps, plans and photos.

Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 2019

Launceston, once Cornwall's capital, but whose influence also ran deep into Devon, lies within la... more Launceston, once Cornwall's capital, but whose influence also ran deep into Devon, lies within landscape whose fabric allows the overpowering effect of clever design of structures and approaches, and the arrangements of excluding and enclosing walls, still to be felt. Once a central place, from where much of Cornwall's life was controlled during the second millennium AD, it was also a place of considerable drama, carefully contrived to overawe and subject. Visitors from within Cornwall followed routes that over their final miles took them through the open lands of common fields and common pastures, to make more stark the contrast with the closed world of the town itself, walled around, closed on one side by a deer park, and oppressively overseen by the castle's dominatingly massive motte. The sight of that motte, and its keep with central tower, beautifully skylined as people from Devon crossed the Tamar, transmitted important messages about the power of the Crown from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries. Its influence later shifted towards administration and regulation, but that dwindled when the Assizes were moved to Bodmin in 1840 and perceptions of it now are also influenced by its more local recent role as a market town serving a large hinterland whose mixed farming has gradually become more pastoral.

Cornish Archaeology, 1996

Archaeological investigations by Martin Roseveare, building recording by Martin and Eric Berry, ... more Archaeological investigations by Martin Roseveare, building recording by Martin and Eric Berry, and historical research by the author at Stonaford in North Hill parish, eastern Bodmin Moor, confirmed that the standing house incorporates a later medieval longhouse. The opportunity is taken for Eric Berry to discuss several other east Cornish standing longhouses, including Cullacott and Halbathick.

Cornish Archaeology, 1997

First publication of a 'propped stone' with early Neolithic date determined by alignment with a l... more First publication of a 'propped stone' with early Neolithic date determined by alignment with a long mound and solstice sunset. Also presentation and discussion of newly discovered stone circle, stone row and long mound, and the ways they fit into the early landscape history of this part of Bodmin Moor.

Cornish Archaeology, 2011

Considers how landscape study helps us better understand the development of Cornwall. Reviews wha... more Considers how landscape study helps us better understand the development of Cornwall. Reviews what landscape is, what aspects of it have been researched in Cornwall, and how that has affected the ways it is valued. From prehistory to the present.

Prehistoric Extractive Metallurgy in Cornwall, 1997

A paper that questions the presumption that archaeologists will eventually find extensive evidenc... more A paper that questions the presumption that archaeologists will eventually find extensive evidence of Bronze Age tin extraction in SW Britain. Instead it is suggested that elites in an agricultural economy would have an interest in containing tin extraction in order to maintain the prestige of bronze. Higher levels of tin exploitation may be anticipated in later prehistory, the time of Ictis.

Cornish Archaeology, 2016

Survey and interpretation of the early Neolithic cromlech, or simple chambered tomb, that gave it... more Survey and interpretation of the early Neolithic cromlech, or simple chambered tomb, that gave its name to the medieval settlement of Grumbla in Sancreed in west Cornwall. Grumbla Quoit, as it is known in the archaeological literature, was partially dismantled in the early 19th century when transformed into a small cottage. Its remains were recognised by the late Peter Pool, who requested it be scheduled. It is unusual among west Cornish chambered tombs in being low-lying, but appears to have been typical in being a simple box of four tall slabs supporting a large capstone.

Journal of Archaeological Science, 1986

This paper describes an experiment which investigates the possibility that stone circles were lai... more This paper describes an experiment which investigates the possibility that stone circles were laid out by eye rather than being geometrically planned. Over 100 simulated stone circles were built and hence a data set of known layout method was generated for comparison with stone circles. The results illustrate that no distinction can be made between the hypotheses. Examination of other architectural traits and geographical distributions suggest, however, that simple laying out procedures, as opposed to the more complex geometries proposed by Thom are more appropriate for stone circles in Britain. Key words; BRITAIN. NEOLITHIC/'BRONZE AGE. STONE CIRCLES, DESIGN. GEOMETRY, PERCEPTION OF CIRCULARITY.

Landscape Archaeology between Art and Science

Thanks to Bernard and Sandra Lawrey, farmers at Foage, for access; to Jon Brookes (warden) and Pa... more Thanks to Bernard and Sandra Lawrey, farmers at Foage, for access; to Jon Brookes (warden) and Paul Hughes (student warden) of the National Trust for arranging the recording and for helping on site respectively; to Alan Matthews, Alan and Jamie the excavators; to Vanessa Straker for agreeing to look at the soil samples; and to Jenny McLynn for word-processing.

Cornwall and Scilly Urban Survey, 2005

Historic characterisation and assessment of significance of the medieval town of Camelford in nor... more Historic characterisation and assessment of significance of the medieval town of Camelford in north Cornwall.

Cornish Archaeology, 1993

Close examination, with Della Hooke, of the clauses in a 1049 charter's boundary charter throws l... more Close examination, with Della Hooke, of the clauses in a 1049 charter's boundary charter throws light on to several aspects of pre-Norman Cornwall, including its land use, strip fields, use of commons, mills, and highways and subsidiary lanes. The farming hamlet of Trerice, a tre-estate, had already been divided into two parts by 1049.

Cornish Archaeology, 1993

Examination of a substantial lynchetted field boundary, part of a Romano-British field system ass... more Examination of a substantial lynchetted field boundary, part of a Romano-British field system associated with a courtyard house settlement. Sections through it recorded the development and partial removal of the lynchet, a preceding bank, and a buried soil whose pollen was examined by Vanessa Straker, Keith Crabtree and S West. That showed an open pastoral landscape. The biography of the lynchet included the late 19C work done in the field by farmer-diarist James Stevens.

Cornish Archaeology, 1992

Rare opportunity to field walk on Bodmin Moor, a granite upland in Cornwall, yielded a dense patt... more Rare opportunity to field walk on Bodmin Moor, a granite upland in Cornwall, yielded a dense pattern of small scatters of mainly Mesolithic flint knapping sites, small activity areas. A similar density of spread across all of Bodmin Moor would suggest around 140,000 such scatters would exist on the Moor.
The paper also describes and discusses other flint scatters found on the Moor, including along the shores of the several reservoirs and in areas of disturbed ground such as gateways and approaching fords. Here later flints (Neolithic and Bronze Age) have also been found,

Cornish Archaeology, 1989

Review of various interpretations of an unusual earthwork at the summit of Kit Hill in east Cornw... more Review of various interpretations of an unusual earthwork at the summit of Kit Hill in east Cornwall. Recent historical research confirms it was built as a folly, a representation of an early medieval stronghold to commemorate the Battle of Hingston Down, when the Cornish were defeated by the English in 838.
With discussion of its builder, Sir John Call, written by Alexander Forsyth.

Cornish Archaeology, 1993

Summary of first modern survey and research into the archaeology of an iconic Cornish place, the ... more Summary of first modern survey and research into the archaeology of an iconic Cornish place, the Mount. From late prehistoric tin-trading port, through medieval castle, priory and harbour to early modern and recent stately home, ornamental landscape and working harbour.

Landscape Archaeology, between Art and Science, proceedings of first Landscape Archaeology Conference (Amsterdam), 2012

Designing sustainable futures through better understanding the past requires inclusivity: all soc... more Designing sustainable futures through better understanding the past requires inclusivity: all society, all disciplines and all actors.
Paper reviews landscape archaeology practice in the UK, including inquisitive, theoretical, empirical and phenomenological approaches and discusses how these feed into broader characterisations. And considers how they enable landscape archaeologists and historians to better meet the needs and support wider society.

Cornish Archaeology, 1983

Short report on discovery of a Neolithic long cairn on Bodmin Moor. Suggested that Neolithic sett... more Short report on discovery of a Neolithic long cairn on Bodmin Moor. Suggested that Neolithic settlement and other activity may be found in similarly unspectacular locations elsewhere in Cornwall, and that further long cairns may await discovery in Cornwall.

Landscape Research, 2016

Contemporary wisdom holds that landscape research requires cross-disciplinary collaborations, and... more Contemporary wisdom holds that landscape research requires cross-disciplinary collaborations, and consideration of character has been seen as one way to achieve this, yet character-based methods of landscape assessment incline towards unidisciplinarity. This is the case in the UK, with two parallel methods in use since the early 1990s. Both have become influential across Europe in the drafting and implementation of the European Landscape Convention.
This paper, a contribution to a special issue of Landscape Research, focuses on one of the methods, Historic Landscape Characterisation (carried out mainly by archaeologists and heritage managers), and compares it with Landscape Character Assessment (used by the landscape architects and geographers) to examine the concepts of both landscape character and interdisciplinarity. It concludes that although a single integrated method for landscape assessment could be desirable, there remain benefits in having separate methods, and the process of combining parallel landscape assessments can bring research benefits.

Recent Approaches to the Archaeology of Land Allotment Edited by Adrian Chadwick, BAR International Series, 1875, 2008

Gathering together of survey records and interpretations of prehistoric fields, boundaries and pa... more Gathering together of survey records and interpretations of prehistoric fields, boundaries and pastures in Cornwall, SW Britain. From Neolithic enclosures on Bodmin Moor to Bronze Age coaxial and curvilinear fields on the uplands to Iron Age brick-shaped fields in lowland Cornwall.
What fields meant functionally and symbolically. Maps, plans and photos.

Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 2019

Launceston, once Cornwall's capital, but whose influence also ran deep into Devon, lies within la... more Launceston, once Cornwall's capital, but whose influence also ran deep into Devon, lies within landscape whose fabric allows the overpowering effect of clever design of structures and approaches, and the arrangements of excluding and enclosing walls, still to be felt. Once a central place, from where much of Cornwall's life was controlled during the second millennium AD, it was also a place of considerable drama, carefully contrived to overawe and subject. Visitors from within Cornwall followed routes that over their final miles took them through the open lands of common fields and common pastures, to make more stark the contrast with the closed world of the town itself, walled around, closed on one side by a deer park, and oppressively overseen by the castle's dominatingly massive motte. The sight of that motte, and its keep with central tower, beautifully skylined as people from Devon crossed the Tamar, transmitted important messages about the power of the Crown from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries. Its influence later shifted towards administration and regulation, but that dwindled when the Assizes were moved to Bodmin in 1840 and perceptions of it now are also influenced by its more local recent role as a market town serving a large hinterland whose mixed farming has gradually become more pastoral.

Cornish Archaeology, 1996

Archaeological investigations by Martin Roseveare, building recording by Martin and Eric Berry, ... more Archaeological investigations by Martin Roseveare, building recording by Martin and Eric Berry, and historical research by the author at Stonaford in North Hill parish, eastern Bodmin Moor, confirmed that the standing house incorporates a later medieval longhouse. The opportunity is taken for Eric Berry to discuss several other east Cornish standing longhouses, including Cullacott and Halbathick.

Cornish Archaeology, 1997

First publication of a 'propped stone' with early Neolithic date determined by alignment with a l... more First publication of a 'propped stone' with early Neolithic date determined by alignment with a long mound and solstice sunset. Also presentation and discussion of newly discovered stone circle, stone row and long mound, and the ways they fit into the early landscape history of this part of Bodmin Moor.

Cornish Archaeology, 2011

Considers how landscape study helps us better understand the development of Cornwall. Reviews wha... more Considers how landscape study helps us better understand the development of Cornwall. Reviews what landscape is, what aspects of it have been researched in Cornwall, and how that has affected the ways it is valued. From prehistory to the present.

Landscape History, 2017

See pages 141-2 for review. Important publication. Helps understand the Fens, but also more gener... more See pages 141-2 for review.
Important publication. Helps understand the Fens, but also more generally the transition from prehistory to early medieval arrangements here and elsewhere in Britain

The Archaeological Journal, 2020

Review of collection of papers on historical transhumance practices across Europe.

Cornwall's Historic Landscape; a method of historic landscape character assessment, 1998

The original Historic Landscape Characterisation or HLC. Sets out the rationale, aims, principles... more The original Historic Landscape Characterisation or HLC. Sets out the rationale, aims, principles and method and serves as an introduction to Cornwall's historic landscape and the ways we care for and look after it.

Archaeology and landscape at the Land's End, the West Penwith Surveys 1980-2010, 2016

Intro to a volume on the interpretation of scores of landscape archaeology projects undertaken in... more Intro to a volume on the interpretation of scores of landscape archaeology projects undertaken in West Penwith, Cornwall. Considers the concepts of continuity and change and how this landscape has been perceived as particularly ancient.

Paper given at Symposium of Cornwall and Devon Archaeological Societies, November 2011. It summar... more Paper given at Symposium of Cornwall and Devon Archaeological Societies, November 2011. It summarises the various contributions to the Medieval chapters in the Golden Jubilee volume of Cornish Archaeology