UK Mesolithic Projects, Sites and Finds

See Mesolithic stories on scoop.it | Last updated 28-Apr-2013
Added | Amesbury Wilts Vespasian’s Camp (nr Stonehenge), Culverwell Portland (1966), updated Mesolithic Research & Conservation Framework (University of York)

Overview

A selective list of recent Mesolithic projects, excavations and discoveries. Includes websites where available—not as many as you might hope for—and media coverage, often with “headline-catching” claims. Look out for “Atlantis“, “re-writing history” and battles over who is “the oldest”. Nevertheless, discoveries continue across developer-led, community and still some academic research projects and often prompt us to rethink some of our existing assumptions.

Links to national and regional British archaeological frameworks are also provided. These give extensive overviews of the archaeological background, historiography, assets and research agendas as well as useful bibliographies. Their benefit is to span most government and political boundaries. They contain both chronological surveys (and “transitions” between traditional epochs such as Mesolithic→Neolithic) as well as heritage, environmental and cross-period human activity themes.

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Sources

This list is compiled from Internet searches, heritage e-news (largely on Twitter #mesolithic, Facebook and syndicated news-feeds such as Past Horizons and Heritage Daily—see Stuff to Watch for links to the most popular, online media and local knowledge. Academic articles and monographs seldom include accessible Internet URLs or websites suitable for a general interest readership.

I also recommend subscribing to Mesolithic Miscellany website | Facebook. Subscribers to institutions such as the Prehistoric Society (PAST magazine) and Antiquity will have access to regular news updates too.

National and Regional Archaeological Research Frameworks

• Regional Archaeological Research and Resource Frameworks England | Multi-period, ALGAO portal to UK regional publications which give good and extensive overviews of known assets, historical context and priorities. Each includes a useful bibliography.
• Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF)
• Research Framework for the Archaeology of Wales
• Research Frameworks for the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic of Britain and Ireland (Prehistoric Society 1999)
• Mesolithic Research and Conservation Framework for England (University of York Project stage 2 for consultation by 17-May-2013)

Atlantic Litorale

England

• Amesbury, Wiltshire
  Excavations at Vespsian’s Camp nr Stonehenge uncover over 12,000 Mesolithic flints, an aurochs tooth (6250 Cal BC) and boar’s tusk. Museum display in prep (2013) | BBC News Online 19-Apr-2013
• Asfordby, Leicestershire
  Excavation of Deepcar type lithic scatter | Website
• Bouldnor Cliff, Isle of Wight
  Submerged landscape and settlement in the Solent, partly published, ongoing project | Website | BBC News 2012 with video
• Bridgwater, Somerset
  Open-air cemetery, re-examination of historical finds (the only other British “cemetery” is Aveline’s Hole, Somerset) | BBC News 2011
• Culverwell, Portland Bill, Dorset
  Discovered in 1966 and excavated by Susann Palmer, this is not a “new” discovery. However, excavations continue in the area and may reveal more Mesolithic activity (2013) | Excavations announcement 2013
• Didcot, Oxfordshire
  Mesolithic flints and multi-period settlement in wake of building development (Oxford Archaeology) | Oxford Times 22-Jan-13 | BBC News 2013
• Doggerland, North Sea
  Published palaeo-environmental project mapping the land inundated by the North Sea up to c. 6100 BC | Website
• Howick, Northumberland
  Completed and published excavation of Late Mesolithic house with radiocarbon sequence (cf East Barns and Echline, Scotland) | Website
• North East Yorkshire Mesolithic Project
  Final phase 3, 2013 | Landscape project with trial excavations, website includes downloadable booklet and lithic fact sheets | PastHorizons article Dec 2012 | Whitby Gazette, Yorkshire Post | Mar 2013 Goldsborough Dig article Whitby Gazette
• Sefton, Merseyside | BBC with video | Guardian
  Excavation with shelter and lithics | Media coverage Nov 2012
• Stainton West, Carlisle, Cumbria
  Developer-funded excavation with >300K Late Mesolithic lithics (5,750 microliths), hearths, stake holes, beaver dam | Webpage
• Severn Estuary | extending from human and animal footprints preserved in mud at Goldcliff East, Martin Bell (University of Reading) heads a project to recover artefactual and environmental evidence ahead of the construction of the Severn barrage. The barrage will artificially raise water levels and so the archaeology is at risk of silting and erosion | BBC coverage 6-Jan-2013
• Star Carr, Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire
  Ongoing wetland project with excavations directed by Prof Nicky Milner | Website
• Swale-Ure Washlands Project, Vale of Mowbray, North Yorkshire
  Study of the fluvial, vegetational and landscape evolution and the impact of human activity around two North Yorkshire rivers during the later post-glacial (Holocene) period—13,000 years (Durham University Geography Department and consortium | Website and booklet (2004)
• Thames Foreshore, Vauxhall, London
  Lithics and organic remains near MI6 HQ | Blog and video 2009

Scotland

• Biggar, South Lanarkshire
  Published fieldwork | Website
• East Barns, Dunbar, East Lothian
  Excavation of house with very early Late Mesolithic dates (cf Howick) | Website
• Echline, Midlothian
  Another early house discovered on the site of new Forth crossing (with what looks like Early Mesolithic microliths?) | Developer-funded excavation | Media coverage Nov 2012 | BBC News | Telegraph | Mail
• Inner Hebrides Archaeological Project
  Prof Steven Mithen’s ongoing work (University of Reading) | Web summary
• Nairn, Highlands
  Mesolithic activity area at supermarket development site | BBC News 2011
• North East Scotland Archaeological Research Society (NESARS)
  Fieldwalking projects are recovering early to late Mesolithic lithic assemblages | visit project summaries pages
• Orkney
  OrkneyJar is an excellent archaeology blog and news site hinting at Mesolithic (or earlier) presence

Wales

• Mesolithic Wales overview | Nab Head, Pembrokeshire; Trwyn Du, Anglesey; Burry Holms, Gower; submerged forests; the Lydstep pig (legacy find); human; and animal footprints (e.g. Goldcliff East, published, filmed by Time Team)
• Monmouth
  Developer-funded excavation, Late Mesolithic lithics | Media coverage 2010

REP Ireland AND NORTHERN IRELAND

• Londonderry | Very early excavated Neolithic settlement that has been under analysis for a decade. Finds to go on show at the Tower Museum. | Belfast Telegraph Feb 2013
• Mount Sandel | University College Dublin to reconstruct Mesolithic house (off-site) | Blog

Channel Islands

• No recent projects or national media coverage found

Picture credits: hans s | Foter | Creative Commons 2.0