The land-use history of the southern English chalklands with an evaluation of the Beaker period using environmental data : colluvial deposits as environmental and cultural indicators
The land-use history of the southern English chalklands with an evaluation of the Beaker period using environmental data : colluvial deposits as environmental and cultural indicators
Recent studies have demonstrated that colluvium is present on the chalklands of southern Britain and have indicated its anthropogenic causal relationship. However, although the extent of hillwash has, to some degree been identified, its occurrence as significant blankets covering archaeological sites and its potential to aid with the interpretation of land-use in the past was unclear. The opportunity was therefore taken to use these deposits in conjunction with detailed land snail analysis from both colluvium and traditional archaeological contexts to interpret land-use in the past.
The Beaker period, which contains a series of distinctive artifact types, was specifically examined. This allowed an examination of land-use in an attempt to identify any specific changes which could be seen to accompany this new material culture. The value of using the Beaker period is that has a short duration (2300-1800 BC), is distinctive and is seen as a marker horizon of human change.
An interpretation of land-use and soil change was largely made by the study of colluvium and by extensive land snail analysis. Observations of modern erosion events allowed the recognition of the precise mode of deposition of ancient colluvium. This also allowed detailed interpretation of past erosion events per se and the environmental conditions under which colluvium had accumulated. This research included a total of eight colluvial investigations (three of which involved detailed hand excavation) and land snail analysis from a further twelve sites.
Four study areas were examined: Lewes downland, Isle of Wight, Salisbury Plain and Dorchester environs. In each area (except Dorchester) smaller areas were examined in more detail. The Dorchester area as a whole, was small enough to allow detailed coverage. At least one major colluvial sequence was excavated in each area, using established methods, and complemented by land snail analysis from adjacent sites of the same of similar periods.
In many locations archaeological sites and artifact scatters were buried by up to 3m of hillwash. Even buried Beaker land surfaces with cultivation marks were excavated under hillwash.
University of Southampton
Allen, Michael J
c4d18a53-eac2-4dc6-b094-ed7f510a93fe
1994
Allen, Michael J
c4d18a53-eac2-4dc6-b094-ed7f510a93fe
Allen, Michael J
(1994)
The land-use history of the southern English chalklands with an evaluation of the Beaker period using environmental data : colluvial deposits as environmental and cultural indicators.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that colluvium is present on the chalklands of southern Britain and have indicated its anthropogenic causal relationship. However, although the extent of hillwash has, to some degree been identified, its occurrence as significant blankets covering archaeological sites and its potential to aid with the interpretation of land-use in the past was unclear. The opportunity was therefore taken to use these deposits in conjunction with detailed land snail analysis from both colluvium and traditional archaeological contexts to interpret land-use in the past.
The Beaker period, which contains a series of distinctive artifact types, was specifically examined. This allowed an examination of land-use in an attempt to identify any specific changes which could be seen to accompany this new material culture. The value of using the Beaker period is that has a short duration (2300-1800 BC), is distinctive and is seen as a marker horizon of human change.
An interpretation of land-use and soil change was largely made by the study of colluvium and by extensive land snail analysis. Observations of modern erosion events allowed the recognition of the precise mode of deposition of ancient colluvium. This also allowed detailed interpretation of past erosion events per se and the environmental conditions under which colluvium had accumulated. This research included a total of eight colluvial investigations (three of which involved detailed hand excavation) and land snail analysis from a further twelve sites.
Four study areas were examined: Lewes downland, Isle of Wight, Salisbury Plain and Dorchester environs. In each area (except Dorchester) smaller areas were examined in more detail. The Dorchester area as a whole, was small enough to allow detailed coverage. At least one major colluvial sequence was excavated in each area, using established methods, and complemented by land snail analysis from adjacent sites of the same of similar periods.
In many locations archaeological sites and artifact scatters were buried by up to 3m of hillwash. Even buried Beaker land surfaces with cultivation marks were excavated under hillwash.
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Published date: 1994
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Local EPrints ID: 462777
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/462777
PURE UUID: 3995c9d1-165e-4c88-af1d-2b5d62ed4402
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 20:01
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 18:58
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Author:
Michael J Allen
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