Mesolithic coastal community perception of environmental change in the southern North Sea basin
This thesis applies a multi-scalar, multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate the ways in which we have constructed the Mesolithic for the purposes of archaeological research. The human-environment relationship in the southern North Sea basin is used as the lens through which this period is reexamined and redefined. Exploring the nature of this complex interaction on the macro, meso and micro-scale provides greater insight into what it meant to dwell within this landscape during the Mesolithic period. In discussing scales of approach, the means by which research is divided over space and time become a decisive element. The use of political borders to orientate prehistoric archaeology is critically examined and a diffuse structure based on environmental parameters key to the Mesolithic experience of the southern North Sea landscape is offered as a better alternative. Due to the time-transgressive nature of Mesolithic chronology in the North Sea basin, temporal divisions framing the research period, nominally 11,700BP to 7,000BP, are equally permeable; the larger chronological context from the end of the Last Glacial Maximum to the early Neolithic is incorporated into interpretations. To build a multi-scalar interpretation,
Dewing, Elizabeth
CC Archaeology
Mesolithic coastal community perception of environmental change in the southern North Sea basin. This thesis applies a multi-scalar, multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate the ways in which we have constructed the Mesolithic for the purposes of archaeological research. The human-environment relationship in the southern North Sea basin is used as the lens through which this period is reexamined and redefined. Exploring the nature of this complex interaction on the macro, meso and micro-scale provides greater insight into what it meant to dwell within this landscape during the Mesolithic period. In discussing scales of approach, the means by which research is divided over space and time become a decisive element. The use of political borders to orientate prehistoric archaeology is critically examined and a diffuse structure based on environmental parameters key to the Mesolithic experience of the southern North Sea landscape is offered as a better alternative. Due to the time-transgressive nature of Mesolithic chronology in the North Sea basin, temporal divisions framing the research period, nominally 11,700BP to 7,000BP, are equally permeable; the larger chronological context from the end of the Last Glacial Maximum to the early Neolithic is incorporated into interpretations. To build a multi-scalar interpretation,
mesolithic coastal community perception environmental_change southern north_sea basin applies multi_scalar multi_disciplinary evaluate way construct mesolithic purpose archaeological_research human_environment relationship southern north_sea basin use lens period reexamine redefine exploring nature complex_interaction macro meso micro_scale provide great_insight meant dwell within_landscape discuss scale mean divided space_time become decisive element use political border orientate prehistoric_archaeology critically_examine diffuse structure base environmental parameter key mesolithic experience southern north_sea landscape offer well alternative due time transgressive nature mesolithic chronology north_sea basin temporal division frame period nominally equally permeable large chronological_context end last glacial maximum early_neolithic incorporate interpretation build multi_scalar interpretation