The Reuse of Prehistoric Standing Stones in Western Britain? A Critical Consideration of an Aspect of Early Medieval Monument Reuse

Abstract

The superficial similarity in form of prehistoric standing stones and early medieval western British inscribed stones has sometimes led to the suggestion that the medieval stones were reusing the earlier monuments. In this paper this suggestion is critically assessed. It shows that the medieval stones are different in size from the prehistoric stones, and placed in different contexts. This lack of reuse of prehistoric standing stones is considered in the context of other examples of monument reuse known from western Britain.

Introduction: Stones in Substance, Space and Time

“…Filmer-Sankey 1996;Williams 2001;2011c). There is also a tradition of exploring the reuse of ancient monuments within the early medieval era and the ways in which these earlier monuments, ruined buildings and their locales could become significant as foci for early medieval burial, assembly and other activities as topographies of memory (Bradley 1987;Driscoll 1998;Semple 1998;Williams 1997;Petts 2002;Sanmark and Semple 2008).…”

1 Introduction: Stones in Substance, Space and Time

“…There is also a tradition of exploring the reuse of ancient monuments within the early medieval era and the ways in which these earlier monuments, ruined buildings and their locales could become significant as foci for early medieval burial, assembly and other activities as topographies of memory (Bradley 1987;Driscoll 1998;Semple 1998;Williams 1997;Petts 2002;Sanmark and Semple 2008).…”

Developing a low cost 3D imaging solution for inscribed stone surface analysis

“…Used as memorial stones, the now weathered granite surfaces of the examples in Cornwall have often fallen prey to unresolvable disputes and speculations as to their meaning (Petts, 2002). The Tristan Stone is no exception.…”