The nature of Mesolithic activity at selected spring sites in south west England
This thesis examines the nature of Mesolithic activity at five spring sites in south-west England. The springs have unusual properties and the lithics associated with each site have been assessed in order to investigate whether they are indicative of unusual, or even ritualistic, behaviour related to the property of the spring. As well as lithics, some of the springs are associated with other types of material culture and in some cases features such as pits are also present. This thesis brings together the different classes of archaeological evidence and situates their study within the context of the spring and the wider landscape. Recently in Archaeology there has been an increasing interest in the significance of ânatural placesâ, which has led to topographical features being seen as important, and sometimes even sacred, places in the landscape. By contrast, in Mesolithic studies, natural features such as springs are often predominantly viewed in a functional sense, as a source of potable water and a convenient focus for settlement. Occasionally however some sites, such as the Hot Spring, Bath one of the case studies presented here, have been suggested to be evidence of Mesolithic ritual behaviour. These
Davis, Rona
CC Archaeology
The nature of Mesolithic activity at selected spring sites in south west England. This thesis examines the nature of Mesolithic activity at five spring sites in south-west England. The springs have unusual properties and the lithics associated with each site have been assessed in order to investigate whether they are indicative of unusual, or even ritualistic, behaviour related to the property of the spring. As well as lithics, some of the springs are associated with other types of material culture and in some cases features such as pits are also present. This thesis brings together the different classes of archaeological evidence and situates their study within the context of the spring and the wider landscape. Recently in Archaeology there has been an increasing interest in the significance of ânatural placesâ, which has led to topographical features being seen as important, and sometimes even sacred, places in the landscape. By contrast, in Mesolithic studies, natural features such as springs are often predominantly viewed in a functional sense, as a source of potable water and a convenient focus for settlement. Occasionally however some sites, such as the Hot Spring, Bath one of the case studies presented here, have been suggested to be evidence of Mesolithic ritual behaviour. These
nature mesolithic activity select spring site south_west_england examines nature mesolithic activity sit south_west_england spring unusual property lithics associate site assess order_investigate whether indicative unusual even behaviour related property spring well lithics spring associate type material_culture case feature pit also_present brings_together different class archaeological_evidence situates study within_context spring wider_landscape recently archaeology increase_interest significance natural place lead topographical feature see important sometimes even sacred place_landscape contrast mesolithic study natural feature spring often predominantly view functional sense source water convenient focus settlement occasionally however site hot spring bath case_study present suggest evidence mesolithic ritual behaviour