The phase one evaluation of the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic fluvial landscape archaeology of south-west Britain indicated a significant number of findspots that had been omitted from previous national syntheses (e.g. the Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project). 72 new findspots (48% of the pre-project total, as calculated from The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project ) were documented through consultations with the regional HER records, local and regional museums, and private collectors. The evaluation therefore indicated both that the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic heritage of the south-west region is richer than had previously been envisaged, and initiated documentation of this ‘invisible’ resource.

Documentation of the ‘invisible’ resource included both the mapping and archiving of new findspots, and the recording of lithic artefact data (morphology, typo-technology, and physical condition), where the artefacts where available for study through museum collections.

The ‘new’ Lower and Middle Palaeolithic findspots where distributed throughout the south-west region study area. Two general patterns were evident: (i) the majority (n=57, 79%) of findspots were located in areas of the south-west with an already well documented Palaeolithic heritage (e.g. the ‘hotspots’ of the Axe Valley and Broom, the Exe, and the Teign); while (ii) a minority (n=15, 21%) of the findspots are located in areas with little or no previously documented Lower and Middle Palaeolithic archaeology (e.g. south-west Cornwall and the Plymouth region). The former category of findspots both confirms the importance of relatively rich Palaeolithic landscapes within the south-west, and develops our understanding of the hominin occupation within these areas. The latter category of findspots highlights new areas for archaeological study and interpretation, and develops our understanding of hominin landscape use across the wider south-west region.

The quality of the findspot data derived from the HERs was variable, reflecting inevitable differences in the quality of the documented information. Two examples of the newly collated HER records are included:

Co-ordinate: ST 342044
County: Dorset
Location: Gravel pit, Thorncombe
Context: Dug up in gravel 14ft down
Comments: Found by Mr G. Osborne 1955. Ovate handaxe.
Artefacts: 1 handaxe.
HER Reference: Dorset County HER (1 112 046).
References: Gent 1994: Fig. 2 (Archaeological assessment of a proposed extension to Chard Junction Quarry, Thorncombe, Dorset. Exeter Museums Field Archaeology Unit Report 94, 52).
Museum: Dorset County Museum, Dorchester.

Co-ordinate: SY 79----
County: Dorset.
Location: Woodsford, West Dorset.
Artefacts: 2 handaxes.
HER Reference: Dorset County HER (1 134 000).
References: Roe 1968: 55 (A Gazetteer for British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites. London: Council for British Archaeology).
Museum: Salisbury Museum.

The artefact collections of the south-west region’s public museums which could be confidently assigned to the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic were dominated by handaxes, reflecting the secondary context origins of the findspots, the higher level visibility of the artefacts, and their status as a diagnostic chronological marker. There were also significant collections of non-diagnostic lithic artefacts (e.g. débitage flakes), although in the majority of cases these artefacts were poorly provenanced and effectively un-dated.

The Regional Palaeolithic Networks Meeting (June 16th 2005) demonstrated the interest of local government archaeologists, HER officers, museum staff, local enthusiasts, and regional archaeological societies for the further development of Palaeolithic research in the south-west region. The importance of further training and education in lithic artefact and fluvial terrace identification was highlighted with regards to findspot identification and reporting, and lithic artefact classification within extant and new collections. Emphasis was also given to the role of non-flint raw materials in Palaeolithic artefact production in the south-west, and the need for training in non-flint/chert artefact identification.

Overall the phase one evaluation indicated that the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic record of the south-west region is of greater significance than traditionally considered. It is likely that its previous low profile reflects both its relative size in comparison to the Palaeolithic archaeology of other regions (e.g. the Thames Valley and/or the Solent River (Wenban-Smith & Hosfield 2001)), and the absence of large scale aggregates extraction from post-Tertiary sands and gravels in the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset: in other words, absence of evidence (due to absence of aggregates extraction) rather than evidence of absence is argued to be at least partially responsible for the extant patterns in fluvial landscape Palaeolithic archaeology in the south-west region.

Module 2 Outline

Module 2 Results

Module 2 Interim Report

Module 2 References

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