Diversity Rules. On Late Prehistoric Settlement of the Eastern Netherlands and the Need for Regionally Specific Models
R. van Beek
General habitation models based on well-researched regions tend to be applied other, less intensively studied regions, usually implicitly. However, whether they lend themselves do that is hardly ever tested. It may even such general prevent us from obtaining a clear view of patterns supra-regional, regional, and local diversity. As test case, this paper focuses the development landscape in eastern part Netherlands Late Neolithic period until start Middle Roman (c. 2850 BC–AD 100). Special attention given site location, settlement development, organisation. The research area now has entered archaeological debate history Low Countries. demonstrated though some characteristics are well-known other parts Countries, sometimes beyond, organisation later prehistoric societies also deviates interesting ways. case-study makes leaning too heavily results brings risk specific region will overlooked or regional diversity ignored order make data fit expected pattern. One size does not all. only way build new, solid interpretative frameworks for have so far received little attention, create an awareness existing should uncritically.
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society