Prehistoric field systems and the vegetation development of the gritstone uplands of the Peak District
Small valley mires situated adjacent to prehistoric field systems on the East Moors of the Peak District have been dated typologically and by radiocarbon dating to the second millennium BC. These have been used as sources of evidence for environmental change, brought about primarily by prehistoric human activity. The mires have been examined using pollen, spore, charcoal and stratigraphic analyses. Regional vegetation change from the third millennium BC is illustrated in a core from a raised mire site, central to the study area. Of the small valley mire sites studied, two display similar stratigraphic sequences where clay, containing pollen types indicative of agricultural activity, is overlain by peat. Palynological evidence from the valley mire sites indicates that woodland clearance with arable activity was occurring in localized areas across the East Moors from the second millennium and through the first millennium Be. Evidence from a core taken through one of the stone boundaries in a cairnfield complex above the valley mire site at Stoke Flat suggests that the fields and boundaries were associated with this agricultural activity. Radiocarbon dating has indicated that at the valley mire sites, peat accumulation
Long, Deborah J.
Archaeology
Prehistoric field systems and the vegetation development of the gritstone uplands of the Peak District. Small valley mires situated adjacent to prehistoric field systems on the East Moors of the Peak District have been dated typologically and by radiocarbon dating to the second millennium BC. These have been used as sources of evidence for environmental change, brought about primarily by prehistoric human activity. The mires have been examined using pollen, spore, charcoal and stratigraphic analyses. Regional vegetation change from the third millennium BC is illustrated in a core from a raised mire site, central to the study area. Of the small valley mire sites studied, two display similar stratigraphic sequences where clay, containing pollen types indicative of agricultural activity, is overlain by peat. Palynological evidence from the valley mire sites indicates that woodland clearance with arable activity was occurring in localized areas across the East Moors from the second millennium and through the first millennium Be. Evidence from a core taken through one of the stone boundaries in a cairnfield complex above the valley mire site at Stoke Flat suggests that the fields and boundaries were associated with this agricultural activity. Radiocarbon dating has indicated that at the valley mire sites, peat accumulation
prehistoric field_system vegetation development peak_district small valley situate adjacent prehistoric field_system east peak_district date typologically radiocarbon_date second_millennium use source_evidence environmental_change bring primarily prehistoric_human activity examine use pollen charcoal stratigraphic analysis regional vegetation_change third millennium illustrate core raise site central study_area small valley site study display similar stratigraphic_sequence clay contain pollen type indicative agricultural_activity peat palynological evidence valley sit indicate woodland clearance arable activity occur localize area across east second_millennium first_millennium evidence core take stone boundaries complex valley site flat suggest field boundary associate agricultural_activity radiocarbon_date indicated valley site peat accumulation