Contexts producing unusual deposits have long been recognized on later prehistoric settlements. These can include complete or shattered pots; complete animal and/or human skeletons, skulls or articulating segments; or unusually large quantities of material culture. Interpretation has tended to follow theoretical fashions, but the intentions and meanings behind these strange deposits are still poorly understood. This paper approaches the subject through a macro-scale analysis, looking at 230 sites in one region over c.1550 years, from the Middle Bronze to the Middle Iron Ages. This regional, diachronic study has found patterns in settlement deposition that are specific to certain periods. Sometimes, these recurring patterns appear to be immediately functional practices, although in most instances recurrent depositional themes have been argued to have specific ritual intent and to be relatable to wider aspects of social organization and the archaeological record. This study also suggests that hillforts witnessed increased levels of deposition of a range of different material. The analysis provides new perspectives on this important aspect of later prehistoric archaeology.

中文翻译：

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泰晤士河上游和中部青铜时代和铁器时代的聚居地和山丘上的异常沉积

在后来的史前定居点中，人们早就认识到产生不寻常矿床的环境。这些可以包括完整的或破碎的罐子；完整的动物和/或人类骨骼、头骨或关节部分；或异常大量的物质文化。解释倾向于遵循理论时尚，但这些奇怪沉积物背后的意图和意义仍然知之甚少。本文通过宏观分析探讨了这一主题，研究了大约 1550 年间一个地区的 230 个遗址，从青铜时代中期到铁器时代中期。这项区域性的历时研究发现了特定时期的定居沉积模式。有时，这些反复出现的模式似乎立即成为功能性实践，尽管在大多数情况下，反复出现的沉积主题被认为具有特定的仪式意图，并且与社会组织和考古记录的更广泛方面相关。这项研究还表明，山堡见证了一系列不同物质的沉积水平增加。该分析为后来史前考古学的这一重要方面提供了新的视角。