Skyscapes of the Mesolithic/Neolithic Transition in Western England

This paper explores the skyscapes of central southern England during the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition. It suggests that those who built the structures known as the Cotswold-Severn tombs embedded architectural details within their monuments that linked to celestial horizon events for both navigational and calendrical purposes. The architectural designs found within the tombs are analysed for evidence of a cultural engagement with landscape archaeology and the sky. This period witnessed a transition between two eras, so this research considers the possibility that there may also have been a shift in the type of skywatching practised by those inhabiting this landscape during this time of change.