Crow, Jim

Boardman, Stephen

Bromiley, Geoffrey

Thacker, Mark

2017-08-22T09:46:26Z

2017-08-22T09:46:26Z

2017-07-05

This thesis investigates the archaeological potential of masonry mortars throughout North Atlantic Europe, with a particular focus on the buildings and environments of medieval northern and western Scotland. The results of an extensive non-intrusive survey of medieval and later buildings are presented, within which nine multiphase sites were subject to more comprehensive building, environment and materials analysis. The survey suggests that, in general, different mortar-making techniques had well-defined sub-regional distributions which are not simply a correlate of environmental availability, but developed in different ways over time. Moreover, all of the more comprehensively studied buildings contain evidence of striking material contrasts from phases to phase which has great potential in standing building analysis. Material contrasts in masonry evidence between building phases, between neighbouring buildings, between specific buildings and the regional corpus, and between the regions themselves, are then considered as evidence of changing cultural, chronological and environmental context. The relationship between secular and ecclesiastical buildings across the region is a particular concern. Qualitative lab-based and on-site material interpretations made throughout the thesis are supported by a programme of comparative experimentation. This thesis includes the first comprehensive investigation of lime mortars made from marine shells, the first evidence of lime mortars made from coralline algae, results from the first programme of dating medieval buildings in Scotland through radiocarbon analysis of relict mortar fuel, and microstructural analysis of a large range of medieval mortars from Norway to the Isle of Man. Wider research considers the initial emergence of mortared masonry in North Atlantic Europe and the relationship between clay and lime mortars. Ultimately, by placing the upstanding buildings archaeology at the centre of the medieval and later landscape this thesis will demonstrate that masonry mortars have significant potential to inform our understanding of the cultural and environmental context of lordship construction in the North Atlantic, providing a new focus for further interdisciplinary discourse.

http://hdl.handle.net/1842/23412

en

The University of Edinburgh

Knott C. and Thacker, M. (2011). Eaglais na h’Aoidhe. Archaeological Survey. Prepared for Urras Eaglais na h’Aoidhe and Historic Scotland.

Thacker, M. (2012). Towards on on-site mortar archaeology of the Isle of Lewis. Journal of the Buildings lime Forum 19: 38-44.

Thacker, M. (2013) Making lime at the edge of the world. Proceedings of the 3rd historic mortars conference, Glasgow, 2013. Rilem: Glasgow.

Thacker, M. (2013). The Late Norse ‘coral’ or mearl-limes of Orkney – an on-site mortar archaeology of Cubbie Roo’s castle and chapel. Proceedings of the 3rd Historic mortars conference, Glasgow, 2013. Rilem: Glasgow.

Thacker, M. (2014). Petrographic microstructural analysis of lime mortar samples taken from the Tuquoy excavation. Prepared for Historic Scotland.

Thacker, M. (2015). Cille Donnain revisited: negotiating with lime across Atlantic Scotland from the 12th century. Journal of the North Atlantic. Special Hebridean edition.

Thacker, M. (2015). ‘The Quick & the Dead – the architectural development of post- Reformation burial aisles in the northern Hebrides. In search of Colmcille: the legacy of St. Columba in Ireland and Scotland. Island Book Trust: Stornoway.

Thacker, M. (2015) D & ES. Building survey and analysis. Interim report. Newark Chapel.

Thacker, M. (2015). D & ES. Building Survey and analysis. Interim report. Howmore.

Thacker, M, (2015). D & ES. Building Survey. Kisimul Castle.

Thacker, M. (2016). Castle Aros. A buildings archaeology study. Report SMCCCP/ACM/FIN/01 prepared for Historic Environment Scotland.

Thacker, M., ‘MacGillechrist’s Castle’. Proceedings of Barra 2015 conference to re-assess west Highland Galley Castles. Islands Book Trust: Stornoway.

Thacker, M. (2015) D & ES. Building Survey and Analysis for SMCCCP. Eynhallow Church.

Thacker, M. (2015). D & ES. Building Survey and Analysis. Interim report. Castle Fincharn.

Thacker, M. (2015). D & ES. Building Survey and Analysis. Interim report. Mingary Castle.

medieval buildings

lime mortar

Northern Scotland

medieval mortar

North Atlantic Europe

Constructing lordship in North Atlantic Europe: the archaeology of masonry mortars in the medieval and later buildings of the Scottish North Atlantic.

Thesis or Dissertation

Doctoral

PhD Doctor of Philosophy