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Beyond Star Carr: The Vale of Pickering in the 10th Millennium BP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Chantal Conneller
Affiliation:
Queens' College, Cambridge CB3 9ET
Tim Schadla-Hall
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY

Abstract

For the last 50 years the site of Star Carr has retained a role of considerable importance within Mesolithic studies. Recent archaeological and palaeoenvironmental survey of the Vale of Pickering (Schadla-Hall 1987; 1988; 1989; Lane & Schadla-Hall forthcoming) permits an understanding of the regional context of Star Carr and indicates the site itself now needs to be re-evaluated. This paper will focus on the lithic evidence recovered during the recent excavations and field survey in order to explore the nature of peoples' engagement with the landscape of the Vale of Pickering during the Early Mesolithic.

Résumé

Au cours des 50 dernières années, le site de Star Carr a continué à jouer un rôle d'une importance considérable dans le cadre des études du mésolithique. Une récente prospection archéologique et paléoenvironnementale de la vallée de Pickering permet de comprendre le contexte régional de Star Carr et démontre que le site lui-même a maintenant besoin d'être réévalué. Cette étude se concentrera sur les témoignages lithiques, collectés au cours de récentes fouilles et prospections de terrain, de manière à explorer la nature de l'engagement des populations dans le paysage de la vallée de Pickering au mésolithique ancien.

Zusammenfassung

Der Fundplatz Star Carr nahm in den letzten 50 Jahre eine herausgehobene Stellung in der Mesolithikumforschung ein. Neue archäologische und umweltarchäologische Surveys im Tal von Pickering (Schadla-Hall 1987; 1988; 1989; Lane & Schadla-Hall in Vorbereitung) haben neue Kenntnisse zum regionalen Kontext von Star Carr geliefert und gezeigt, dass eine Neubewertung des gesamten Fundplatzes notwendig ist. In diesem Artikel werden die lithischen Befunde der letzten Ausgrabungen und Feld-Surveys behandelt, um die Eingriffe des Menschen in die Landschaft des Tals von Pickering während der Frühen Mesolithikums zu untersuchen.

Résumen

Durante los últimos 50 años el yacimiento de Star Carr ha mantenido un papel de considerable importancia en los estudios sobre el Mesolítico. Un reciente reconocimiento arqueológico y paleo-ambiental en el Valle de Pickering nos permite entender el contexto regional de Star Carr e indica que este yacimiento debe ser ahora reevaluado. Este estudio se centra en las evidencias líticas recuperadas durante las recientes excavaciones y el reconocimiento de campo efectuado, y explora la naturaleza de la relación existente entre los habitantes y los parajes del Valle de Pickering durante el Primer Mesolítico.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2003

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References

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