From Ahu to Avebury: Monumentality, the Social, and Relational Ontologies

This chapter challenges conventional archaeological approaches by advocating for the integration of landscape, architectural, and material culture studies to better understand monumentality. It argues that causewayed enclosures, such as those at Stonehenge and Avebury, should be interpreted not just as physical structures but as 'acts of enclosure' with social and relational significance. The research builds on Jeremy Till's concept of dependent architecture, emphasizing its contingent nature as an opportunity for creative interpretation and future archaeological inquiry. By bridging theoretical divides, the chapter offers a new framework for analyzing monumental sites, highlighting their dynamic relationship with social contexts.

Pollard, J. (2016). From Ahu to Avebury: Monumentality, the Social, and Relational Ontologies. Archaeology after Interpretation, 177–196. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315434254-9