Abstract:
The analysis of prehistoric stone features has suffered for two separate but related reasons. The first is the lack of stringency in defining the terms attributed to these structures and, second, the perception of a lack of formal attributes exhibited by them. These two factors have made it impossible to subject these structures to the kinds of rigorous analysis to which other components of archaeological excavations are routinely put.
This thesis has two purposes. First, it defines 22 types of stone features. Second, in order to circumvent the analytical limitations imposed by the narrow spectrum of formal attributes exhibited by stone
features, it examines positional and selected ancillary attributes of those features in order to ascertain whether certain attributes might be used to assign functions to stone structures.
