event · evt_bi_southern_britain_middle_bronze_age_framework
Middle Bronze Age framework in southern Britain
Southern British chronology commonly places the Middle Bronze Age from approximately 1550 to 1150 BCE, while other regions use different schemes.
What is the evidence?
observation
Southern British chronology commonly places the Middle Bronze Age from approximately 1550 to 1150 BCE, while other regions use different schemes.observed evidence
Southern British chronology commonly places the Middle Bronze Age from approximately 1550 to 1150 BCE, while other regions use different schemes.This periodization is a research tool for local sequences, not a synchronous historical event across Britain and Ireland.
Inspect the sources →Review and provenance
Specialist reviewer: not recorded. Review date: not recorded.
Dataset workflow: proposed. This is separate from specialist review.
Confidence describes the stated assessment; it does not certify expert approval. How review works.
Chronology
Dating intervals may describe uncertainty or phases; their width alone does not establish event duration.
1550 BCE–1150 BCE
Precision: periodization range
Chronology model: regionally resolved positive bce
highPositive BCE integers are used; the larger value is earlier. The range preserves archaeological and calibration uncertainty. This periodization is a research tool for local sequences, not a synchronous historical event across Britain and Ireland.
- supports · dates
History of Bronze Age research in Scotland, including summary chronologies — Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (2012)Provides explicit southern British and Scottish phase tables and cautions that southern British chronology cannot simply be transferred to Scotland.
Locator: Sections 1.2 and 1.2.5, Tables 1 and 2 - supports · dates
An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme — Stuart Needham, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, David Coombs, Caroline Cartwright, Paul Pettitt (1997)Presents 46 radiocarbon measurements on organics physically associated with metalwork and revises Middle to Late Bronze Age phase chronology.
Locator: Abstract; pp. 55–107; chronological synthesis tables
Interpretation and caveats
This periodization is a research tool for local sequences, not a synchronous historical event across Britain and Ireland.
Event context
Classification
Event type: archaeological period transition
Evidence layer: archaeological
Timeline role: regional core
People and places
Locations: Southern and eastern England archaeological search region, South-west England archaeological search region, Wales archaeological search region
Affected entities: Southern and eastern England archaeological search region, South-west England archaeological search region, Wales archaeological search region
Why it matters to the timeline
This regional-core chronology event anchors the Middle-to-Late Bronze Age transition without imposing an eastern Mediterranean collapse model.
Research notes
- Provides explicit southern British and Scottish phase tables and cautions that southern British chronology cannot simply be transferred to Scotland. Role: provides evidence and date. Locator: Sections 1.2 and 1.2.5, Tables 1 and 2.
- Presents 46 radiocarbon measurements on organics physically associated with metalwork and revises Middle to Late Bronze Age phase chronology. Role: provides evidence and date. Locator: Abstract; pp. 55–107; chronological synthesis tables.
Evidence and sources
- supports · provides evidence and date
History of Bronze Age research in Scotland, including summary chronologies — Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (2012)Provides explicit southern British and Scottish phase tables and cautions that southern British chronology cannot simply be transferred to Scotland.
Locator: Sections 1.2 and 1.2.5, Tables 1 and 2 - supports · provides evidence and date
An Independent Chronology for British Bronze Age Metalwork: The Results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme — Stuart Needham, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, David Coombs, Caroline Cartwright, Paul Pettitt (1997)Presents 46 radiocarbon measurements on organics physically associated with metalwork and revises Middle to Late Bronze Age phase chronology.
Locator: Abstract; pp. 55–107; chronological synthesis tables