Tanged flint points and their contribution to the study of early Scottish prehistory
By the re-evaluation of one specific artefact class - the Scottish examples of tanged points, the intrinsic qualities of this artefacts form, context and is use is employed to establish an enhanced sense of regional variability within early Scottish archaeology. A methodology for tanged point identification is determined and enacted to demonstrate that the existing examples of Scottish tanged points do not represent a single, coherent, tanged point tradition in this region. Variability is evident and can be translated, in terms of human behaviour, to suggest at least three separate antecedents to early activity in Scotland. Of specific focus is a hitherto unrecognized line of activity (or influence) during the Mesolithic - one originating from areas to the north/north-east of Scotland from the modern political construct of Scandinavia. In this spatial context, tanged point use extends into the Mesolithic, unlike counterparts in the northern territories of the European continent where tanged points are primarily discussed as late Palaeolithic, and to which Scottish tanged points have been traditionally compared. This 'northern' scenario thus provides an alternative reading of some examples of this material
Dempsey, Naomi
Stone implements ; Projectile points ; Excavations (Archeology) ; Orkney (Scotland)
Tanged flint points and their contribution to the study of early Scottish prehistory. By the re-evaluation of one specific artefact class - the Scottish examples of tanged points, the intrinsic qualities of this artefacts form, context and is use is employed to establish an enhanced sense of regional variability within early Scottish archaeology. A methodology for tanged point identification is determined and enacted to demonstrate that the existing examples of Scottish tanged points do not represent a single, coherent, tanged point tradition in this region. Variability is evident and can be translated, in terms of human behaviour, to suggest at least three separate antecedents to early activity in Scotland. Of specific focus is a hitherto unrecognized line of activity (or influence) during the Mesolithic - one originating from areas to the north/north-east of Scotland from the modern political construct of Scandinavia. In this spatial context, tanged point use extends into the Mesolithic, unlike counterparts in the northern territories of the European continent where tanged points are primarily discussed as late Palaeolithic, and to which Scottish tanged points have been traditionally compared. This 'northern' scenario thus provides an alternative reading of some examples of this material
flint point study early scottish prehistory re_evaluation specific artefact class scottish example point intrinsic quality artefacts form context use employ establish enhanced sense regional_variability within early scottish archaeology point identification determine enact exist example scottish point represent single coherent point tradition region variability evident translate term human_behaviour suggest least_three separate antecedent early activity scotland specific_focus hitherto unrecognized line activity influence mesolithic originate area_north north_east_scotland modern political construct scandinavia spatial context point use extend mesolithic unlike counterpart northern territory european continent point primarily discuss late palaeolithic scottish point traditionally compare northern scenario thus_provide alternative reading example material