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Radiocarbon evidence for the Lateglacial human recolonisation of Northern Europe

Radiocarbon evidence for the Lateglacial human recolonisation of Northern Europe
Radiocarbon evidence for the Lateglacial human recolonisation of Northern Europe
This paper examines, through the use of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry dating, the database of Lateglacial cultures involved in the recolonisation of northern Europe. The aim is not only to determine the timing of that recolonisation, but also to propose a general model of hunter-gatherer colonisation at a sub-continental scale. The question is addressed of how long the period of abandonment of northern Europe during the Würm/Weichsel glaciation may have lasted, and when it both started and came to an end. A series of questions is asked concerning the processes and mechanics of recolonisation and the sequences for specific areas are examined. AMS radiocarbon dating shows that a two stage process was involved, which has important implications for our analysis of regional settlement patterns and the changing scale of Lateglacial hunting systems. Recolonisation was a dynamic process, integral to, and internally driven by, the social life of Lateglacial hunters. It may have been constrained by environmental and resource factors, which we have emphasised here, but ultimately it was an historical, social process and should be similarly regarded to that of the farmers. By measuring rates of expansion data are provided for use in other studies of hunter-gatherer colonisation.
0079-497X
25-54
Housley, R.A.
c23b6c3d-900d-4301-a8d0-1792cdf8a2f2
Gamble, C.S.
1cbd0b26-ddac-4dc2-9cf7-59c66d06103a
Street, M.
3dd2b86f-49c0-4208-a558-e53895d7f4e5
Pettitt, P.
5e9085cf-cf40-4ff3-8139-28958ba05182
Housley, R.A.
c23b6c3d-900d-4301-a8d0-1792cdf8a2f2
Gamble, C.S.
1cbd0b26-ddac-4dc2-9cf7-59c66d06103a
Street, M.
3dd2b86f-49c0-4208-a558-e53895d7f4e5
Pettitt, P.
5e9085cf-cf40-4ff3-8139-28958ba05182

Housley, R.A., Gamble, C.S., Street, M. and Pettitt, P. (1997) Radiocarbon evidence for the Lateglacial human recolonisation of Northern Europe. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 63, 25-54. (doi:10.1017/S0079497X0000236X).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper examines, through the use of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry dating, the database of Lateglacial cultures involved in the recolonisation of northern Europe. The aim is not only to determine the timing of that recolonisation, but also to propose a general model of hunter-gatherer colonisation at a sub-continental scale. The question is addressed of how long the period of abandonment of northern Europe during the Würm/Weichsel glaciation may have lasted, and when it both started and came to an end. A series of questions is asked concerning the processes and mechanics of recolonisation and the sequences for specific areas are examined. AMS radiocarbon dating shows that a two stage process was involved, which has important implications for our analysis of regional settlement patterns and the changing scale of Lateglacial hunting systems. Recolonisation was a dynamic process, integral to, and internally driven by, the social life of Lateglacial hunters. It may have been constrained by environmental and resource factors, which we have emphasised here, but ultimately it was an historical, social process and should be similarly regarded to that of the farmers. By measuring rates of expansion data are provided for use in other studies of hunter-gatherer colonisation.

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Published date: January 1997
Organisations: Archaeology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 391510
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/391510
ISSN: 0079-497X
PURE UUID: 775d2524-dde7-4ae7-a596-6e57bc5af442

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Date deposited: 21 Apr 2016 14:33
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 23:30

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Contributors

Author: R.A. Housley
Author: C.S. Gamble
Author: M. Street
Author: P. Pettitt

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