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Investigation of a Final Palaeolithic Site at Rookery Farm, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Chantal Conneller ,
Rachel Ballantyne ,
Charles French  and
George Speller
Chantal Conneller
Affiliation:
Archaeology, School of Arts, Histories & Cultures, University of Manchester, M13 9PL
Rachel Ballantyne
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3DZ
Charles French
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3DZ
George Speller
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3DZ
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Abstract

This paper presents the results of excavations at an Upper Palaeolithic site that was discovered at Rookery Farm, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire in 2002. Diagnostic lithic material – three penknife points – indicates that the site was probably occupied between 12,000 and 11,000 BP, a time of deteriorating climatic conditions. Excavations discovered a small task site, located to take advantage of water and a lithic raw material source. The paper discusses Rookery Farm in relation to other sites of this date and patterns of mobility and settlement across north-west Europe.

Résumé

Cette étude présente les résultats d'excavations d'un site du paléolithique supérieur qui avait été découvert à Rookery Farm, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshireen 2002. Un matériel lithique diagnostique – trois pointes de canif – indique que le site était probablement occupé entre 12 000 et 11 000 avant le présent, époque où les conditions climatiques se détérioraient. Les excavations ont découvert un petit site artisanal, établi là pour tirer avantage de l'eau et d'une source de matière première lithique. Cette étude examine Rookery Farm par rapport aux autres sites de cette date et aux schémas de mobilité et d'occupation à travers le nord-ouest de l'Europe.

Résumen

Este trabajo presenta los resultados de las excavaciones en un yacimiento del Alto Paleolítico descubierto en Rookery Farm, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire el año 2002. Material lítico diagnóstico – tres puntas de navaja – indica que el yacimiento probablemente estuvo ocupado entre 12,000 y 11,000 BP, un periodo de empeoramiento de las condiciones climáticas. Las excavaciones descubrieron un pequeño yacimiento de trabajo, bien situado para aprovechar fuentes de agua y materia prima lítica. El trabajo examina Rookery Farm en relación con otros yacimientos de esta fecha y los modelos de movilidad y asentamiento en el noroeste de Europa.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Beitrag stellt die Ausgrabungsergebnisse einer Spätpaläolithischen Fundstelle vor, die in Rookery Farm, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire 2002 entdeckt wurde. Diagnostische Steinindustrie – drei Federmesserspitzen – zeigt, dass die Fundstelle wahrscheinlich zwischen 12,000 und 11,000 BP, einer Zeit mit sich verschlechternden klimatischen Bedingungen, benutzt wurde. Ausgrabungen erbrachten Hinweise auf eine kleine Workshop Fundstelle in günstiger Lage zu Wasser und Steinrohmaterialien. Der Artikel diskutiert Rookery Farm in Verbindung zu anderen, gleichzeitigen Fundstellen und Mobilitäts- und Besiedlungsmustern in Nordwest Europa.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 75 , 2009 , pp. 167 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2009

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