A taphonomic study of the Wealden beds of southern Britain
The association of particular taphonomic signatures with particular Wealden physical environments is investigated through taphonomic analyses of samples of bones from various mainland sites and the Isle of Wight. In this way an even greater insight into the mosaic of physical environments present in southern Britain during Wealden times is gained than has already been revealed by previous studies. A three end member taphonomic model best summarises the results of the research carried out. One end member of the model is represented by Cuckfield, West Sussex. Fluvial channels dominated at Cuckfield and most of the bones in the sample from the site were recovered from channel-fill deposits. These bones belonged to animals that lived in the channels themselves or on their banks, although even in the latter case input to the channels would have been more or less immediate. In the channels themselves burial rates would have been high. The taphonomic signature for Cuckfield is therefore shown to be characterised by minimal taphonomic modification. The second end member of the model is represented by Hollington, East Sussex. At Hollington and Wealden lagoon is represented, which would normally have been characterised
Burton, A. C.
A taphonomic study of the Wealden beds of southern Britain. The association of particular taphonomic signatures with particular Wealden physical environments is investigated through taphonomic analyses of samples of bones from various mainland sites and the Isle of Wight. In this way an even greater insight into the mosaic of physical environments present in southern Britain during Wealden times is gained than has already been revealed by previous studies. A three end member taphonomic model best summarises the results of the research carried out. One end member of the model is represented by Cuckfield, West Sussex. Fluvial channels dominated at Cuckfield and most of the bones in the sample from the site were recovered from channel-fill deposits. These bones belonged to animals that lived in the channels themselves or on their banks, although even in the latter case input to the channels would have been more or less immediate. In the channels themselves burial rates would have been high. The taphonomic signature for Cuckfield is therefore shown to be characterised by minimal taphonomic modification. The second end member of the model is represented by Hollington, East Sussex. At Hollington and Wealden lagoon is represented, which would normally have been characterised
taphonomic study bed southern_britain association particular taphonomic signature particular physical_environment investigate taphonomic analysis sample bone various mainland site isle_wight way even great_insight mosaic physical_environment present southern britain time gain already reveal previous_study end member taphonomic model best summarises carry_out end member model represent west sussex fluvial channel dominate bone_sample site recover channel fill deposit bone belong animal live bank although even latter_case input channel would less immediate channel burial rate would high taphonomic signature therefore show characterise minimal taphonomic modification second end member model represent east sussex represent would normally characterise