Lithic scatters and landscape : the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Early Bronze Age inhabitation of the lower Exe valley, Devon
This thesis examines the inhabitation of the lower Exe valley, between the Mesolithic and the Early Bronze Age through the evidence of a series of surface lithic scatters. Research draws on recent confident approaches to surface lithic scatters which view them as key data for understanding the inhabitation of prehistoric landscapes. Theoretically it draws on the dwelling perspective and proposes that both the contents of lithic scatters (the stone tools and debitage of which they are composed), and their contexts (the locations in which they are found) are inseparable parts of the same whole, and are implicated in the processes through which prehistoric populations came to understood and create their worlds. Research focuses on a small study area centred on the lower Exe valley, Devon. It is one of the most significant prehistoric landscapes in lowland southwest Britain and includes a large surface lithic collection spanning the Mesolithic to the Early Bronze Age. It also contains evidence for a number of contemporary monuments. Several methodologies are applied to the contents and contexts of the study areaâs lithic assemblages. Methodologies utilised include lithic analysis, landscape phenomenology, LIDAR
Bayer, Olaf J.
AI Indexes (General) ; CC Archaeology ; Q Science (General)
Lithic scatters and landscape : the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Early Bronze Age inhabitation of the lower Exe valley, Devon. This thesis examines the inhabitation of the lower Exe valley, between the Mesolithic and the Early Bronze Age through the evidence of a series of surface lithic scatters. Research draws on recent confident approaches to surface lithic scatters which view them as key data for understanding the inhabitation of prehistoric landscapes. Theoretically it draws on the dwelling perspective and proposes that both the contents of lithic scatters (the stone tools and debitage of which they are composed), and their contexts (the locations in which they are found) are inseparable parts of the same whole, and are implicated in the processes through which prehistoric populations came to understood and create their worlds. Research focuses on a small study area centred on the lower Exe valley, Devon. It is one of the most significant prehistoric landscapes in lowland southwest Britain and includes a large surface lithic collection spanning the Mesolithic to the Early Bronze Age. It also contains evidence for a number of contemporary monuments. Several methodologies are applied to the contents and contexts of the study areaâs lithic assemblages. Methodologies utilised include lithic analysis, landscape phenomenology, LIDAR
lithic_scatter landscape mesolithic neolithic_early_bronze_age inhabitation lower valley devon examines inhabitation lower valley bronze_age evidence series surface lithic_scatter draws recent confident approach surface lithic_scatter view key data inhabitation prehistoric_landscape theoretically draw dwell perspective proposes content lithic_scatter stone_tool compose context location find inseparable part_whole implicated process prehistoric_population come understood create world focus small study_area centre lower valley devon significant prehistoric_landscape lowland southwest britain include large surface lithic collection span bronze_age also_contain evidence number contemporary monument several methodology apply content contexts study_area lithic_assemblage methodologies utilise include lithic analysis landscape phenomenology