Changing times :the emergence of a Bronze Age on the Isle of Man

PhD ThesisIn this thesis I consider the study of change. I present a critique of existing approaches to the study of change and time in a prehistoric context. I develop an approach that moves beyond explanations of change where change is the result of singular causation located in a single moment of time. I critically consider how change is understood in the work of key relational thinkers such as Latour, Bennett, Ingold and DeLanda, developing an understanding of change which stresses the interplay between continuously fluxing assemblages and episodes of dramatic change (phase transitions). The theoretical position established is applied to interpreting change during the Ronaldsway Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age on the Isle of Man in an evidence-led analysis of material culture, mortuary practices and transformation of place. I focus on axes of stone and bronze and use them as a means to explore the effects of changing technology. New use-wear analysis on the Early Bronze Age corpus of metalwork from the Isle of Man is presented as a means of exploring the impact of bronze as a new material. I consider burial practices from 3000-1500 cal BC supported by twelve new radiocarbon dates. I also address changing relations with earth, drawing together diverse evidence including Earthfast Jar practices, the construction of burial monuments and the settlement evidence from the period. A new narrative for the period emerges highlighting the strength of an approach that draws on relational thinking. This approach emphasises the role of non-human actants in producing both continuity and change. It establishes the role of specific actants in the changing assemblages of the Manx Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, illustrating how change emerges from the constant flux that is endemic within actants at every scale. Change is presented as complex, relational and multiple. It is traceable through careful consideration of gradual changes at multiple scales by considering the quivering hives of activity within every assemblage.The Isle of Man Government: Newcastle University

On Machine-Learned Classification of Variable Stars with Sparse and Noisy Time-Series Data

With the coming data deluge from synoptic surveys, there is a growing need for frameworks that can quickly and automatically produce calibrated classification probabilities for newly-observed variables based on a small number of time-series measurements. In this paper, we introduce a methodology for variable-star classification, drawing from modern machine-learning techniques. We describe how to homogenize the information gleaned from light curves by selection and computation of real-numbered metrics ("feature"), detail methods to robustly estimate periodic light-curve features, introduce tree-ensemble methods for accurate variable star classification, and show how to rigorously evaluate the classification results using cross validation. On a 25-class data set of 1542 well-studied variable stars, we achieve a 22.8% overall classification error using the random forest classifier; this represents a 24% improvement over the best previous classifier on these data. This methodology is effective for identifying samples of specific science classes: for pulsational variables used in Milky Way tomography we obtain a discovery efficiency of 98.2% and for eclipsing systems we find an efficiency of 99.1%, both at 95% purity. We show that the random forest (RF) classifier is superior to other machine-learned methods in terms of accuracy, speed, and relative immunity to features with no useful class information; the RF classifier can also be used to estimate the importance of each feature in classification. Additionally, we present the first astronomical use of hierarchical classification methods to incorporate a known class taxonomy in the classifier, which further reduces the catastrophic error rate to 7.8%. Excluding low-amplitude sources, our overall error rate improves to 14%, with a catastrophic error rate of 3.5%.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figure

Seven features of safety in maternity units: a framework based on multisite ethnography and stakeholder consultation

Background: Reducing avoidable harm in maternity services is a priority globally. As well as learning from mistakes, it is important to produce rigorous descriptions of ‘what good looks like’. Objective: We aimed to characterise features of safety in maternity units and to generate a plain language framework that could be used to guide learning and improvement. Methods: We conducted a multisite ethnography involving 401 hours of non-participant observations 33 semistructured interviews with staff across six maternity units, and a stakeholder consultation involving 65 semistructured telephone interviews and one focus group. Results: We identified seven features of safety in maternity units and summarised them into a framework, named For Us (For Unit Safety). The features include: (1) commitment to safety and improvement at all levels, with everyone involved; (2) technical competence, supported by formal training and informal learning; (3) teamwork, cooperation and positive working relationships; (4) constant reinforcing of safe, ethical and respectful behaviours; (5) multiple problem-sensing systems, used as basis of action; (6) systems and processes designed for safety, and regularly reviewed and optimised; (7) effective coordination and ability to mobilise quickly. These features appear to have a synergistic character, such that each feature is necessary but not sufficient on its own: the features operate in concert through multiple forms of feedback and amplification. Conclusions: This large qualitative study has enabled the generation of a new plain language framework—For Us—that identifies the behaviours and practices that appear to be features of safe care in hospital-based maternity units

Changing Assemblages: Vibrant Matter in Burial Assemblages

In this paper the notion of assemblage, as derived from the work of Gilles Deleuze, is explored in order to consider change in prehistory. An assemblage-based approach that draws on the concept of ‘vibrant matter’ is implemented as the means of understanding change. In this approach all materials are viewed as vibrant and in flux. These ideas are used to create a heterogeneous view of change where assemblages, or parts of assemblages, may change at varying speeds and rhythms and at many different scales. These ideas are explored through the case study of changing burial practices between 3000 and 1500 cal BC on the Isle of Man. I suggest that this kind of thinking allows us to study change differently, and explore the advantages of this approach to archaeologies of change

Changing Assemblages: vibrant matter in burial assemblages

In this paper the notion of assemblage, as derived from the work of Gilles Deleuze, is explored in order to consider change in prehistory. An assemblage-based approach that draws on the concept of ‘vibrant matter’ is implemented as the means of understanding change. In this approach all materials are viewed as vibrant and in flux. These ideas are used to create a heterogeneous view of change where assemblages, or parts of assemblages, may change at varying speeds and rhythms and at many different scales. These ideas are explored through the case study of changing burial practices between 3000 and 1500 cal BC on the Isle of Man. I suggest that this kind of thinking allows us to study change differently, and explore the advantages of this approach to archaeologies of change

Tracing change at Killeaba

From Introduction: The site of Killeaba, a natural glacial mound utilised as a burial site from the Middle Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in the North of the Isle of Man, was excavated from 1968 to 1969 by A.M. Cubbon (Cubbon 1978). In this paper, new radiocarbon dates for the site − which were gained from the analysis of cremated human bone (see Lanting and Brindley 1998: 1-8) – are presented and discussed. A re-phasing for the site is proposed based on these new radiocarbon dates, a re-analysis of the pre-existing radiocarbon dates (gained from charcoal and wood samples taken at the time of the original excavation), and the stratigraphy of the site. The activity at Killeaba is broken down into four phases. In this paper, changing burial practices at the site are traced from the Middle Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age

Examining the British and Irish Early Bronze Age Flat Axes of the Greenwell Collection at the British Museum

This paper presents the results of metalwork wear-analysis carried out on British and Irish Early Bronze Age copper and copper-alloy flat axes from the collection of Rev. Greenwell (1820–1918) held at the British Museum. Greenwell was a prolific and well-known British antiquarian; part of his collection was sold to John Pierpont Morgan who donated the axes to the museum in 1908. This paper focuses on the copper and copper-alloy flat axes from within this collection, which date to c. 2500–1700 cal BC and are the earliest form of metal axe in Britain and Ireland. The 38 axes are drawn from across Britain and Ireland, and whilst the contextual information associated with them is not complete this paper shows that there is still much we can learn from these objects using metalwork wear-analysis. In addition, some methodological insights are drawn from this analysis: in particular the paper advocates for more detailed recording of corrosion and specific recording of wear marks to the butts of axes

Metalwork wear-analysis of weapons from the later Bronze Age on the Isle of Man

This paper presents the result of metalwork wear-analysis carried out in 2016 by the author at the Manx Museum on all the copper-alloy weapons held in the collection from the Bronze Age. The work was completed to consider the evidence for violence in the Later Bronze Age on the Isle of Man; given the lack of skeletal remains from the period the metalwork forms a key line of evidence when considering the role of violence in the period. The paper re-presents basic data (collection numbers, find locations, typologies) on all the objects (drawing on Davey et al. 1999) and presents new data regarding three new finds since the last published catalogue. Following this basic information the results of metalwork wear-analysis on the collection are presented and interpreted. In addition a full catalogue of the wear-analysis is presented as an appendix