The significance of Yesemek Stone Quarry and Sculptural Workshop in Gaziantep Islahiye province is rooted in its basalt quarry and stone sculptures found at the site. Yesemek was first discovered by Felix Von Luschan in 1890 while he was excavating Zincirli (Sam&rsquo / al). Between 1958 and 1961, the site was excavated by a team under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Bahadir Alkim. The excavations at the site yielded approximately three hundred finished or unfinished lion, sphinx and mountain god sculptures. While the exact function of these sculptures are still not known, the thesis will explore the function of these sculptures by examining the architectural structures where the sculptures could have been used as architectural decoration. Another issue that will be discussed in the thesis is the date of Yesemek workshop and sculptures. To that end, Yesemek sculptures will be stylistically compared to Late Bronze and Iron Age sculptures.

Shetland boasts exceptionally well-preserved, but largely overlooked, field systems spanning a period of approximately 4000 years (Neolithic/Bronze Age – Viking/Norse). These have the potential to vastly increase our understanding of past agricultural practices and life styles. This study uses topographical survey, Shape Analysis, GIS, soil survey and micromorphology to answer questions relating to their location, form and function/management, pioneering the use of new tools and testing current models. An holistic landscape approach to the field systems is developed and tested against a multi-period site. Previously unknown types and periods of field systems are identified through survey and shape analysis, tools demonstrated to be valuable in refining the emerging model of field classification. GIS has illuminated pre-, during and post- construction factors influencing boundary form. New insights into location arise from the survey and GIS. Soils work has demonstrated that existing models of soil management over-simplify a complex situation, that thin acidic soils retain cultural information and that accretion was important to the sustainability of these peaty soils. While soils were sustainable over extended periods, the cultural inheritance of managed land appears to be limited. This thesis therefore presents the most holistic and comprehensive understanding of Shetland field systems which has so far been attempted.