 Chapter one , " Ritual and the archaeologist " , begins by describing the ritual deposits from the pre @-@ Roman Iron Age sites of Cadbury Castle and Danebury , hillforts in southern Britain . Merrifield laments the fact that the majority of archaeologists , particularly those studying literate , historical periods , have avoided ritual explanations for unusual phenomenon in the archaeological record ; he believes that they exhibit a " ritual phobia " . He contrasts this view with that of those archaeologists studying the Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain , who have widely accepted the ritual uses of chambered tombs and stone circles . He specifies particular definitions for words such as " ritual " , " religion " and " superstition " , arguing that such terms must be used with precision by archaeologists . Offering a case study , he describes how Neolithic stone axes were adopted as amulets or talismans in the later Roman Iron Age onward in Britain , and that as such archaeologists should expect to find them in non @-@ prehistoric contexts . 
 Chapter one , " Ritual and the archaeologist " , <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>begins</mark></a> by describing the ritual deposits from the pre @-@ Roman Iron Age sites of Cadbury Castle and Danebury , hillforts in southern Britain . Merrifield <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>laments</mark></a> the fact that the majority of archaeologists , particularly those studying literate , historical periods , <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> avoided ritual explanations for unusual phenomenon in the archaeological record ; he <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>believes</mark></a> that they exhibit a " ritual phobia " . He <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>contrasts</mark></a> this view with that of those archaeologists studying the Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain , <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>have</mark></a> widely accepted the ritual uses of chambered tombs and stone circles . He <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>specifies</mark></a> particular definitions for words such as " ritual " , " religion " and " superstition " , arguing that such terms must be used with precision by archaeologists . Offering a case study , he <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>describes</mark></a> how Neolithic stone axes <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> adopted as amulets or talismans in the later Roman Iron Age onward in Britain , and that as such archaeologists should expect to find them in non @-@ prehistoric contexts . 
Chapter one , " Ritual and da archaeologist " , begin by describing the ritual deposits from tdapre @-@ Roman Iron Age sites of Cadbury Castle and Danebury , hillforts in southern Britain . Merrifield lament thdaact dat the majority of archaeologists , particularly those studying literate , historical periods , done avoided ritual explanations fa unusual phenomenon in thedachaeological record ; he believe tdatthey exhibit a " ritual phobia " . He contrast dis view wid thdatf those archaeologists studying the dalithic and Bronze Age Britain , done widely accepted the ritual uses of chambered tombs and stone circles . He specify particular definitions ffawords such as " ritual " , " religion " and " superstition " , beefing thadatch terms must be used with precision by archaeologists . Offering a case study , he describe how Neolithic stone axes was adopted as amulets or talismans in the ldar Roman Iron Age onward in Britain , and that as such archaeologists should expect to find em in non @-@ prehistoric contexts .