Absence, Presence, Indexicality: The Mise en Scène of ‘the Heart of Neolithic Orkney’

The Ring of Brodgar stone circle and associated Neolithic sites evoke a dynamic, hauntological experience for visitors, characterized by a tension between perceived presence and absence. This study reveals that the site's mise en scène, akin to surrealist frottage or a photograph, indexically represents an unknowable past while simultaneously soliciting imaginative engagement with heterochronia—simultaneous yet incompatible manifestations of time and space—and metatheatre, hinting at cryptic ritual performances. The research draws on surrealist theory, Robert Smithson's concepts, and semiotic analysis to argue that visitors' responses are shaped by this dialectical tension, where the imaginary blurs with the real, as described by Breton. The approach combines archaeological interpretation with performance studies to explore how these sites provoke a sense of presence despite their enigmatic nature.

Marshall, J. W. (2017). Absence, Presence, Indexicality: The Mise en Scène of ‘the Heart of Neolithic Orkney’. Theatre Research International, 42(1), 72–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0307883317000074