A regional model of hominid behaviour during the middle Pleistocene
Research into the British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic has traditionally focused upon artefact typology and the in situ stone and bone scatters from primary context sites. The majority of the evidence has been rejected as difficult data from which little or nothing can be said. In this thesis it is proposed that the data can support a wide range of archaeological investigations, and that their apparent weaknesses reflect the asking of unsuitable questions. This thesis presents a three-stage methodology for the interpretation of all the British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic data from the Hampshire Basin, southern EngÂŹ land. The formation of the archaeological record is addressed with respect to the modÂŹ ern excavation of Palaeolithic deposits, the chronology of the geological contexts, and the transportation and redeposition of lithic material into secondary contexts. The reÂŹ sults of the research methodology are interpreted for the management and protection of Britain's Palaeolithic heritage through spatial analytical techniques and GIS-based predictive modelling. Applications of the data to models of middle Pleistocene hominid behaviour are investigated, with particular emphasis upon long-term survival
Hosfield, Robert Tyldesley
CC Archaeology
A regional model of hominid behaviour during the middle Pleistocene. Research into the British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic has traditionally focused upon artefact typology and the in situ stone and bone scatters from primary context sites. The majority of the evidence has been rejected as difficult data from which little or nothing can be said. In this thesis it is proposed that the data can support a wide range of archaeological investigations, and that their apparent weaknesses reflect the asking of unsuitable questions. This thesis presents a three-stage methodology for the interpretation of all the British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic data from the Hampshire Basin, southern EngÂŹ land. The formation of the archaeological record is addressed with respect to the modÂŹ ern excavation of Palaeolithic deposits, the chronology of the geological contexts, and the transportation and redeposition of lithic material into secondary contexts. The reÂŹ sults of the research methodology are interpreted for the management and protection of Britain's Palaeolithic heritage through spatial analytical techniques and GIS-based predictive modelling. Applications of the data to models of middle Pleistocene hominid behaviour are investigated, with particular emphasis upon long-term survival
regional model hominid behaviour middle_pleistocene british lower_middle_palaeolithic traditionally_focus upon artefact typology situ stone bone scatter primary context site majority evidence reject difficult data little nothing say propose data support wide_range archaeological_investigation apparent weakness reflect ask unsuitable question present three_stage interpretation british lower_middle_palaeolithic data hampshire basin southern land formation archaeological_record address respect excavation palaeolithic deposit chronology geological context transportation lithic_material secondary context interpret management protection britain palaeolithic heritage spatial analytical_technique gis_based predictive modelling applications data model middle_pleistocene hominid behaviour investigate particular_emphasis upon long_term survival