1,721,004 research outputs found
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The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the Channel Islands: maritime and terrestrial perspectives
No full textThis paper investigates the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the Channel Islands. It presents a new synthesis of all known evidence from the islands c. 5000-4300 BC, including several new excavations as well as find spot sites that have not previously been collated. It also summarises – in English – a large body of contemporary material from north-west France. The paper presents a new high-resolution sea level model for the region, shedding light on the formation of the Channel Islands from 9000-4000 BC. Through comparison with contemporary sites in mainland France, an argument is made suggesting that incoming migrants from the mainland and the small indigenous population of the islands were both involved in the transition. It is also argued that, as a result of the fact the Channel Islands witnessed a very different trajectory of change to that seen in Britain and Ireland c. 5000-3500 BC, this small group of islands has a great deal to tell us about the arrival of the Neolithic more widely
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Neolithic Stepping Stones: Excavation and survey within the western seaways of Britain, 2008-2014
No full textThe ‘western seaways’ are an arc of sea extending from the Channel Islands in the south, through the Isles of Scilly around to Orkney in the north. This maritime zone has long been seen as a crucial corridor of interaction during later prehistory. Connections across it potentially led, for example, to the eventual arrival of the Neolithic in Britain, almost 1000 years after it arrived on the near continent. This book’s primary focus is Early Neolithic settlement on islands within the ‘western seaways’ – sites that offer significant insight into the character of the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in this particular maritime zone. It also explores a series of directly related, wider themes: the nature and effects of ‘island-ness’ in later prehistory; the visibility of material connections across the sea; the extent of Neolithic settlement variability across Britain; and the consequences of geographical biases in research for our understanding of the prehistoric past. At the heart of the book lie the results of three substantial excavations at L’Erée, Guernsey; Old Quay, St Martin’s (Isles of Scilly); and An Doirlinn, South Uist. Key findings include: the first major Mesolithic flint assemblage recovered from Scilly; one of the most extensively excavated and long-lasting Neolithic/Bronze Age occupation sites in the Channel Islands; the first substantial Neolithic settlement on Scilly; and the longest sequence of Neolithic/Early Bronze Age occupation on a single site from the Outer Hebrides. In order to contextualise the significance of these findings, we also present an extended discussion and broad synthesis of Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeology on each island group
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Neolithic crannogs: rethinking settlement, monumentality and deposition in the Outer Hebrides and beyond
Full text linkThis paper outlines work on a group of newly-identified Neolithic crannogs in the Outer Hebrides. Methods employed included underwater/aerial photogrammetry, geophysics, diver surveys and terrestrial excavation. Our results demonstrate conclusively, for the first time, that artificial islets were a widespread feature of the Neolithic in this region; they appear to have been special purpose locations which saw significant deposition of material culture into the water. Our findings challenge current conceptualisations of Neolithic settlement, monumentality and depositional practice more widely. They also suggest the possibility that other ‘undated’ crannogs across Scotland and Ireland could potentially have Neolithic origins as well
Excavations of a Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age occupation site at L'Erée, Guernsey, Channel Islands
No full textThe excavation described here forms part of a larger project, directed by the authors, entitled Neolithic land- and seascapes in Guernsey, 5500-2500 BC, which aims to investigate changes in settlement, landscape occupation and environment over the course of three millennia. In doing so, we also hope to situate the impressive and well-known monumental evidence on the island in its broader landscape context and shed light on the initial introduction of Neolithic practices there. This detailed regional study will ultimately make a significant contribution to understandings of the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in north-western Europe in general, and the mechanisms by which Neolithic practices spread into western France and then across the Channel to Britain in particular (Figure 1)
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Microliths and maritime mobility: a continental European-style Late Mesolithic flint assemblage from the Isles of Scilly
Get PDFOnce Britain had become separated from the European mainland in the seventh millennium BC, Mesolithic stone tool traditions on opposite sides of the newly formed Channel embarked upon different directions of development. Patterns of cross-Channel contact have been difficult todecipher in this material, prior to the expansion of farming (and possibly farmers) from northern France at the beginning of the fourth millennium BC. Hence the discovery of Late Mesolithic microliths of apparently Belgian affinity at the western extremity of southern Britain—in the Isles of Scilly—comes as something of a surprise. The find is described here in detail, along with alternative scenarios that might explain it. The article is followed by a series of comments, with a closing reply from the authors
Scottish archaeological islands: a historiographical analysis and the legacy of antiquarian research
No full textCrannogs, enigmatic artificial islands dotting the landscapes of Scotland and Ireland, have been subjects of intrigue and debate for centuries. These complex sites exhibit a remarkable time-depth of use, often revealing multiple phases or periods, coupled with a great diversity in their structural forms and settings. Moreover, the extensive yet fragmented early historiography of crannog research has left a lasting legacy on our modern understandings and interpretations of these sites. Adding to the complexity is the more recent discovery of Neolithic crannogs, which has pushed back the accepted date for these sites by over 3,000 years.In our pursuit to shed light on this newest piece of the enigma, we embarked on a systematic study, departing from the simple replication of existing databases. Instead, we focused on mining and extracting information from articles published in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, which represent a substantial portion of early crannog research. While generating descriptive statistics is useful, true knowledge advancement comes from contextualising the data and the ideologies that shaped their generation. Our meticulous data mining and information extraction analysis allowed us to understand the historiography of Scottish crannogs in new ways. By analysing terminologies used through time, we identified inconsistencies, biases and even geographic discrepancies in site classifications. Through additional refinement of this database and subsequent fieldwork, we were able to identify new, previously unrecorded, sites and question the validity of some ‘known’ sites.To address ambiguities surrounding island origins and classification inconsistencies, we expanded our focus to include all ‘archaeological islands’. This broadened scope has deepened our understanding of site types and their differential visibility in the national heritage record. To avoid interpretative dissonance, future insights must be integrated with national datasets, ensuring that the archaeological record continues to foster innovation and accommodate expanding knowledge
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Grey waters bright with Neolithic argonauts? Maritime connections and the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition within the ‘western seaways’ of Britain, c. 5000–3500 BC
No full textCareful examination of the probable natural conditions for travel in the North Sea and Irish Sea during the late Mesolithic are here combined with the latest radiocarbon dates to present a new picture of the transition to the Neolithic in the British Isles. The islands of the west were already connected by Mesolithic traffic and did not all go Neolithic at the same time. The introduction of the Neolithic package neither depended on seaborne incomers nor on proximity to the continent. More interesting forces were probably operating on an already busy seawa
R. A. S. Macalister et J. Garrow Duncan, Excavations on the Hill of Ophel, Jerusalem, 1923-1925 (Palestine Exploration Fand, Annual 1923-1925)
No full textDussaud René. R. A. S. Macalister et J. Garrow Duncan, Excavations on the Hill of Ophel, Jerusalem, 1923-1925 (Palestine Exploration Fand, Annual 1923-1925). In: Syria. Tome 9 fascicule 2, 1928. pp. 161-163
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