Aims And Objectives

Gary Nobles

Aims and Objectives

1.0 Aims and Objectives This study investigates the circularity of the far horizon surrounding Recumbent Stone Circles of North East Scotland and South West Ireland. It is largely based upon the previous works of Richard Bradley (1998) and Colin Richards (1996:190-208) as well as building upon the recommendations and methodology suggested by Mark Lake and Patricia Woodman (2003:689-707). This paper aspires to utilise Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology in an amalgamation with phenomenological techniques as well as developing a further methodology for this type of analysis. The monument type, Recumbent Stone Circle, was chosen due to their relative geographic isolation; this confinement to a reasonably small area allows for the implementation of a series of Monte-Carlo tests. Also the apparent monumental link between these two areas is strong due to their typology, this also allows for a possible series of comparisons to be drawn between the two regions. To begin with a definition of circularity needs to be established in order to clarify the current situation, at present it has been left in a state of ambiguity with two possible interpretations. Defining a landscape as circular has its own problems, what may look like a circular landscape on a plan may not feel the same when a person is exploring that same area, therefore a method for quantifying this perception of circularity is required. Once this initial framework has been constructed the analysis of the Recumbent Stone Circles will be feasible. This analysis constitutes the quantification of contemporary views of circularity through a questionnaire, as well as the geographical quantification of landscapes which contain these monuments. These two analyses are then united to provide collaboration between the psychological and phenomenological with the quantifiable and measurable landscape derived using GIS.

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