Lithic scatters and landscape occupation in the Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic : a case study from eastern England
Lithic scatters are the most abundant class of evidence relating to Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic activity in southern Britain. Many such scatters, especially those from surface and ploughsoil contexts, have long been characterised as being of low-interpretive value and have been marginalised both in academic studies of the periods and in the wider context of protecting and managing the historic environment. This vast body of evidence makes little contribution to contemporary understandings of the LUP and Mesolithic, which remains largely informed by work which privileges the investigation of well-preserved sites with in situ lithic scatters, especially those with associated faunal remains and palaeoenvironmental evidence. This has serious implications for our ability to characterise and interpret activity in locations and regions where such well preserved and intensively investigated sites are lacking, and in many areas of the country policy makers, fieldworkers and curators are not equipped with the information necessary to make informed decisions concerning the investigation, management and protection of the archaeology of these periods. This thesis explicitly address these issues through a detailed
Billington, Lawrence
Lithic Scatters ; Late Upper Palaeolithic ; Mesolithic
Lithic scatters and landscape occupation in the Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic : a case study from eastern England. Lithic scatters are the most abundant class of evidence relating to Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic activity in southern Britain. Many such scatters, especially those from surface and ploughsoil contexts, have long been characterised as being of low-interpretive value and have been marginalised both in academic studies of the periods and in the wider context of protecting and managing the historic environment. This vast body of evidence makes little contribution to contemporary understandings of the LUP and Mesolithic, which remains largely informed by work which privileges the investigation of well-preserved sites with in situ lithic scatters, especially those with associated faunal remains and palaeoenvironmental evidence. This has serious implications for our ability to characterise and interpret activity in locations and regions where such well preserved and intensively investigated sites are lacking, and in many areas of the country policy makers, fieldworkers and curators are not equipped with the information necessary to make informed decisions concerning the investigation, management and protection of the archaeology of these periods. This thesis explicitly address these issues through a detailed
lithic_scatter landscape occupation late upper_palaeolithic mesolithic case_study eastern_england lithic_scatter abundant class evidence_relate late upper_palaeolithic mesolithic activity southern_britain many scatter especially surface context long characterise_low interpretive value marginalise academic_study period wider_context protect manage historic_environment vast body_evidence make little contemporary understanding mesolithic remain_largely informed work privilege investigation well_preserved site situ lithic_scatter especially associate faunal_remains palaeoenvironmental evidence serious implication ability characterise interpret activity location region well_preserve intensively investigate site lack many_area country policy_maker curator equip information necessary make inform decision concern investigation management protection archaeology period explicitly address_issue detail