Temporary Palaces - The Great House in European Prehistory (Bradley Richard)(Paperback / softback)

The Great Houses of the prehistoric and early medieval periods were enormous structures whose forms were modeled on those of domestic dwellings. Most were built of wood rather than stone; they were used over comparatively short periods; they were frequently replaced in the same positions; and some were associated with exceptional groups of artifacts. Their construction made considerable demands on human labor and approached the limits of what was possible at the time. They seem to have played specialized roles in ancient society, but they have been difficult to interpret. Were they public buildings or the dwellings of important people? Were they temples or military bases, and why were they erected during times of crisis or change? How were their sites selected, and how were they related to the remains of a more ancient past? Although their currency extended from the time of the first
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