Chronological and regional variability in Late Mesolithic narrow-blade lithic assemblages from northern Britain
A marked change in character of Mesolithic chipped stone industries occurred c. 9200 BP. Early Mesolithic 'broad-blade' microlithic technology was replaced by Late Mesolithic 'narrow-blade' technology. Narrow-blade technology remained in use throughout the period c. 9200-5200 BP. Some changes are likely during this 4000-year period. Hitherto, however, it has proved difficult to identify chronological and regional variations within the British narrow-blade industries, based on stylistic and technical attributes. This is because most narrow-blade assemblages are surface collections which represent hundreds of years of human activity, concealing technological development over time. I have approached this problem by analyzing and comparing the lithic assemblages from securely dated sites from various parts of northern Britain, with the intention of re-defining Late Mesolithic typochronology. Six lithic assemblages from Late Mesolithic sites in northern England and western Scotland served as the primary source material. These assemblages were recovered from sites excavated by Clive Bonsall between 1974 and 1999: Monk Moors and Williamson's Moss in the Eskmeals region of Cumbria; Lon Mor, Kilmore and Ulva in western
Ritchie, Graham Andrew
Mesolithic ; lithics ; chronology
Chronological and regional variability in Late Mesolithic narrow-blade lithic assemblages from northern Britain. A marked change in character of Mesolithic chipped stone industries occurred c. 9200 BP. Early Mesolithic 'broad-blade' microlithic technology was replaced by Late Mesolithic 'narrow-blade' technology. Narrow-blade technology remained in use throughout the period c. 9200-5200 BP. Some changes are likely during this 4000-year period. Hitherto, however, it has proved difficult to identify chronological and regional variations within the British narrow-blade industries, based on stylistic and technical attributes. This is because most narrow-blade assemblages are surface collections which represent hundreds of years of human activity, concealing technological development over time. I have approached this problem by analyzing and comparing the lithic assemblages from securely dated sites from various parts of northern Britain, with the intention of re-defining Late Mesolithic typochronology. Six lithic assemblages from Late Mesolithic sites in northern England and western Scotland served as the primary source material. These assemblages were recovered from sites excavated by Clive Bonsall between 1974 and 1999: Monk Moors and Williamson's Moss in the Eskmeals region of Cumbria; Lon Mor, Kilmore and Ulva in western
chronological_regional variability late_mesolithic narrow blade lithic_assemblage northern_britain mark_change character mesolithic chip_stone industry occur early_mesolithic broad blade microlithic_technology replace late_mesolithic narrow blade technology narrow blade technology remain use throughout_period change likely year_period hitherto however prove difficult identify chronological_regional variation_within british narrow blade industry base stylistic technical attribute narrow blade assemblage surface_collection represent human_activity conceal technological_development time approach_problem analyze compare lithic_assemblage securely date sit various part northern_britain intention defining late_mesolithic lithic_assemblage late_mesolithic sit northern_england western_scotland serve primary_source_material assemblage_recover site_excavate monk region cumbria western