Essay on the ‘radical change’ in the nature of British society during the later Bronze Age.
What evidence is there for ‘radical change’ in the nature of British society during the later Bronze Age?
The Late Bronze Age (LBA) in Britain can be thought of as the long period from approximately 1140-700BC, following the Early (EBA) and Middle Bronze Age (MBA) beginning around 2200 and 1500BC respectively (Parker Pearson 2005, 122-23). The EBA is noted for tomb building and communal burials, and the creation of sacred landscapes and monuments as well as the Bell-Beaker phenomenon and the Wessex Culture (Parker Pearson 2005; Sherratt 1994, 250-56). The long MBA/LBA saw a change in settlement and the abandonment of traditional ritual sites. Society seems to become more warlike in terms of the development of hillforts and changes in artefacts. This essay shall discuss briefly the evidence for radical change in the nature of British society during the LBA and will begin by examining the landscape, climate and agriculture, habitation, burials and artefacts and finally the nature and organisation of society before offering some conclusions.
