There is enormous potential for a range of scientific techniques, both established and new, to be applied to Mesolithic datasets. There is also the potential for re-examining curated material currently held in archives in addition to any newly excavated samples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mesolithic archaeology has a history of applying scientific techniques, particularly those connected with the palaeoenvironment and economy, since Grahame Clark’s seminal study of Star Carr (Clark 1954). The need to understand the palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate has not gone away, and further high-resolution techniques have been developed which are critical for answering questions related to Research Theme 1 ‘Living in a changing world’ (T1.1-T.1.4) and issues of environmental change through time (T3.1, T3.3, T3.9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grahame Clark carried out some very early radiocarbon dating on material from Star Carr, but approaches to dating have since gone through several revolutions, the latest being the application of Bayesian modelling which has been most notably applied to Howick, and is currently being applied to recent dates at Star Carr and Low Hauxley. There is a critical need for many more good-quality dates on Mesolithic samples in order to answer all of the questions set out in Research Theme 3 ‘Investigating change and diversity’ (T3.1-T3.17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biomolecular approaches have also revolutionised the ways in which we can address archaeological questions and many techniques have significant value for Mesolithic studies, particularly in addressing issues concerning people and animals (T2.11-T2.15). For instance, stable isotope studies have been used to interpret the relative contribution of animal and marine resources to the diet patterns of humans and animals (eg Schulting 2010; Schulting and Richards 2002). In addition, some forensic approaches can also be applied to stone and organic tools which can further enhance our understanding of technology and use (T2.1, T2.3, T3.6). Geochemical approaches and studies of raw materials would help us better understand the movement of stone, in turn helping to answer questions of settlement and mobility (T2.2-T2.4, T2.8-T2.10, T3.9, T3.14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Case Study: Erosion of in situ Mesolithic remains at Low Hauxley, Northumberland. Clive Waddington, Archaeological Research Services Ltd<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBiomolecular techniques<\/h2>\n\n\n
S3.8: There is great potential for aDNA studies in order to understand population history and movement of people better. Major advances have recently been made and with a developing dataset it should be possible to carry out ground-breaking research, as in other parts of Europe. aDNA analysis on animal remains should also be extended in order to understand animal demography, arrivals and extinctions. <\/h3>
More information on this strategy <\/summary>
URI: <\/h5>https:\/\/researchframeworks.org\/meso\/researchframework\/v1\/strategy\/strategy-5fbe5a7fee29e<\/a><\/span>
Linked Question(s): <\/h5>T3.04 – What were the origins of the people who occupied Britain at the start of the Holocene?<\/a>
More information: <\/h5><\/span>
Status: <\/h5>Active <\/span>
Authority to change status: <\/h5> <\/span>
Date accepted: <\/h5> 25\/11\/2020 <\/span>
Date of next review: <\/h5> <\/span><\/div><\/details><\/div><\/div>\n\n
S3.9: A better understanding of human and animal mobility can also be achieved through strontium and oxygen isotope analysis, which has been used to great effect in later prehistory. <\/h3>
More information on this strategy <\/summary>
URI: <\/h5>https:\/\/researchframeworks.org\/meso\/researchframework\/v1\/strategy\/strategy-5fbe5a902e677<\/a><\/span>
Linked Question(s): <\/h5>T2.08 – How did mobility strategies develop from the Lateglacial to the end of the Mesolithic?<\/a>
More information: <\/h5><\/span>
Status: <\/h5>Active <\/span>
Authority to change status: <\/h5> <\/span>
Date accepted: <\/h5> 25\/11\/2020 <\/span>
Date of next review: <\/h5> <\/span><\/div><\/details><\/div><\/div>\n\n
S3.10: Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis has provided insights into human diet, including proportions of marine and terrestrial dietary components, and temporal and regional patterning. This should be continued as more human skeletal material is discovered. <\/h3>
More information on this strategy <\/summary>
URI: <\/h5>https:\/\/researchframeworks.org\/meso\/researchframework\/v1\/strategy\/strategy-5fbe5aa36ba3d<\/a><\/span>
Linked Question(s): <\/h5>T2.11 – What did people eat and how varied were their diets?<\/a>
More information: <\/h5><\/span>
Status: <\/h5>Active <\/span>
Authority to change status: <\/h5> <\/span>
Date accepted: <\/h5> 25\/11\/2020 <\/span>
Date of next review: <\/h5> <\/span><\/div><\/details><\/div><\/div>\n\n
S3.11: Zooms (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) is a technique which uses subtle differences in collagen sequences to identify tiny bone fragments to a high taxonomic resolution (genus or species level). This is being trialled for a number of Mesolithic sites and has the potential to revolutionise the way in which bone is identified. <\/h3>
More information on this strategy <\/summary>
URI: <\/h5>https:\/\/researchframeworks.org\/meso\/researchframework\/v1\/strategy\/strategy-5fbe5ab9bc3ec<\/a><\/span>
More information: <\/h5><\/span>
Status: <\/h5>Active <\/span>
Authority to change status: <\/h5> <\/span>
Date accepted: <\/h5> 25\/11\/2020 <\/span>
Date of next review: <\/h5> <\/span><\/div><\/details><\/div><\/div>\n\n
S3.12: Forensic approaches to tool use, such as use-wear analysis and residue analysis, are being used more widely, particularly in other parts of Europe, to help discern the cultural biographies of stone and organic tools. Further applications in Britain are needed in order to understand how tools were used. <\/h3>
More information on this strategy <\/summary>
URI: <\/h5>https:\/\/researchframeworks.org\/meso\/researchframework\/v1\/strategy\/strategy-5fbe5acae1bb1<\/a><\/span>
Linked Question(s): <\/h5>T2.01 – What can Mesolithic technology (eg stone, antler, bone and wood working), its production, use and deposition, tell us about Mesolithic lifeways?<\/a>
More information: <\/h5><\/span>
Status: <\/h5>Active <\/span>
Authority to change status: <\/h5> <\/span>
Date accepted: <\/h5> 25\/11\/2020 <\/span>
Date of next review: <\/h5> <\/span><\/div><\/details><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
Stone raw materials<\/h2>\n\n\n
S3.13: The establishment of national\/regional lithics raw material reference collections should be undertaken in collaboration with geologists, geomorphologists and Quaternary scientists. The comparison of archaeological material with geological examples, and access to the most recent geological research, would be of great benefit in facilitating progress in an area that has been persistently slow to develop. Typochronologies with supporting dates should also be analysed with a focus on raw material selection. <\/h3>
More information on this strategy <\/summary>