Reconstructing battles and battlefields: Scientific solutions to historical problems at Bannockburn, Scotland

R. Tipping; G. Cook; D. Mauquoy; A. Beresford; D. Hamilton; J.G. Harrison; Jason T. Jordan; P. Ledger; S. Morrison; D. Paterson; N. Russell; D. Smith

doi:10.1179/1466203514Z.00000000030

Reconstructing battles and battlefields: Scientific solutions to historical problems at Bannockburn, Scotland

R. Tipping, G. Cook, D. Mauquoy, A. Beresford, D. Hamilton, J.G. Harrison, Jason T. Jordan, P. Ledger, S. Morrison, D. Paterson, N. Russell, D. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The need for scientists to add objective data to historical studies is argued using as a case study the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The terrain was critical in this battle, as in so many others, but cannot be understood from the few primary sources, which are not contemporary and are strongly biased. Scientific techniques can cut through hyperbole. The methodology and techniques used to better understand the landscape around the battle are briefly discussed, particularly new advances in radiocarbon dating which enable analysis to approach the chronological precision of the archaeologist, if not the historian. Our data are argued to have clarified muddled interpretations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	119-131
Journal	Landscapes
Volume	15
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1179/1466203514Z.00000000030
Publication status	Published - 2014

Bibliographical note

The full text of this item is not available from the repository.
The publisher's website can be found at www.maney.co.uk, and the journal homepage is available at http://www.maneyonline.com/loi/lan. No commercial use may be made of this article.

Keywords

Bannockburn 1314
Battlefield archaeology
Environmental history
Environmental reconstruction

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10.1179/1466203514Z.00000000030

Jason Jordan
- CEES School of The Environment - Head of School
Person: Professional Services

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title = "Reconstructing battles and battlefields: Scientific solutions to historical problems at Bannockburn, Scotland",

abstract = "The need for scientists to add objective data to historical studies is argued using as a case study the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The terrain was critical in this battle, as in so many others, but cannot be understood from the few primary sources, which are not contemporary and are strongly biased. Scientific techniques can cut through hyperbole. The methodology and techniques used to better understand the landscape around the battle are briefly discussed, particularly new advances in radiocarbon dating which enable analysis to approach the chronological precision of the archaeologist, if not the historian. Our data are argued to have clarified muddled interpretations. ",

keywords = "Bannockburn 1314, Battlefield archaeology, Environmental history, Environmental reconstruction",

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year = "2014",

doi = "10.1179/1466203514Z.00000000030",

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AU - Tipping, R.

AU - Cook, G.

AU - Mauquoy, D.

AU - Beresford, A.

AU - Hamilton, D.

AU - Harrison, J.G.

AU - Jordan, Jason T.

AU - Ledger, P.

AU - Morrison, S.

AU - Paterson, D.

AU - Russell, N.

AU - Smith, D.

N1 - The full text of this item is not available from the repository. The publisher's website can be found at www.maney.co.uk, and the journal homepage is available at http://www.maneyonline.com/loi/lan. No commercial use may be made of this article.

PY - 2014

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AB - The need for scientists to add objective data to historical studies is argued using as a case study the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The terrain was critical in this battle, as in so many others, but cannot be understood from the few primary sources, which are not contemporary and are strongly biased. Scientific techniques can cut through hyperbole. The methodology and techniques used to better understand the landscape around the battle are briefly discussed, particularly new advances in radiocarbon dating which enable analysis to approach the chronological precision of the archaeologist, if not the historian. Our data are argued to have clarified muddled interpretations.

KW - Bannockburn 1314

KW - Battlefield archaeology

KW - Environmental history

KW - Environmental reconstruction

U2 - 10.1179/1466203514Z.00000000030

DO - 10.1179/1466203514Z.00000000030

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JO - Landscapes

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IS - 2

ER -

Reconstructing battles and battlefields: Scientific solutions to historical problems at Bannockburn, Scotland

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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