Neolithic archaeology in the intertidal zone / edited by Jane Sidell and Fiona Haughey.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Sidell, Jane.

Haughey, Fiona.

Series:

Neolithic Studies Group seminar papers ; 8.

Neolithic Studies Group seminar papers ; 8

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Excavations (Archaeology)--Great Britain--Congresses.

Excavations (Archaeology).

Neolithic period--Congresses.

Neolithic period.

Antiquities.

Great Britain--Antiquities--Congresses.

Great Britain.

Genre:

Conference papers and proceedings.

Physical Description:

xiii, 106 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford, UK ; Oakville, CT : Oxbow, [2007]

Summary:

The papers in this volume reflect the developing interest in intertidal archaeology. They concentrate on the Neolithic period, as well as elements of associated Mesolithic and Bronze Age archaeology. All papers have supporting environmental data and radiocarbon dates. The volume has a wide geographical spread, starting in the Solway Firth (Michael Cressey) with description and interpretation of several new sites and environmental data including relative sea level change. This is followed by a paper drawing together information from Liverpool Bay (Silvia Gonzalez and R Cowell), including archival research, antiquarian data and recent fieldwork, including the remarkable Formby Point footprints. Continuing southwards, a highly detailed paper on the Severn Estuary (Martin Bell) summarises the relationship between the intertidal and dryland zone, on both sides of the estuary in both the Neolithic and Mesolithic. Rounding the coast, the next paper examines the landscape at Wootton Quarry on the Isle of Wight (Rebecca Loader), and outlines the results of an intertidal zone survey, including well preserved intertidal deposits here, including a buried forest, trackways and flint scatters. This is followed by a paper on the intertidal deposits within Langstone Harbour (Michael Allen and Julie Gardiner), which included subtidal archaeological work in combination with intertidal survey and analysis. Once again, the theme of buried forests is examined and the importance of this previously poorly studied phenomenon is demonstrated. Moving around to the river Thames, two papers (Wilkinson & Sidell and Haughey) provide examinations of the development of the river and the Neolithic development along the estuary, closely tied to environmental change and also the difficulties of working in an estuarine and urban zone simultaneously. The work of archaeologists working in fragile and rapidly eroding environments is evaluated: the papers demonstrate the high quality research being undertaken around the British coast to salvage archaeology by record and undertake detailed research to place it in its proper context.

Contents:

1 Small fragments of a bigger picture: coastal erosion and the Neolithic in the inner Solway Firth, southwest Scotland / Michael Cressey 1

2 Neolithic Coastal Archaeology and Environment around Liverpool Bay / Silvia Gonzalez, R. W. Cowell 11

3 Wetland-dryland relationships in the Severn Estuary and surroundings during the Mesolithic and Neolithic / Martin Bell 26

4 The Wootton Quarr Archaeological Survey, Isle of Wight / R. D. Loader 48

5 The Neolithic of the present day intertidal zone of Langstone Harbour, Hampshire / Michael J. Allen, Julie Gardiner 59

6 London, the backwater of Neolithic Britain? Archaeological Significance of Middle Holocene river and vegetation change in the London Thames / Keith Wilkinson, Jane Sidell 71

7 Searching for the Neolithic while it may be found: research in the inter-tidal zone of the London Thames / Fiona Haughey 86.

Notes:

"This book presents the proceedings of a seminar organised under the Neolithic Studies Group"--p. [iii].

Includes bibliographical references (pages [95]-106).

ISBN:

9781842172667

1842172662

OCLC:

84151370