Mesolithic sites

[Petethedig]

What would you be looking for if you thought you'd found a Meso site?
I have 8 confirmed points, blades and flakes from a 40 Mtre sq area. Flint is an imported material in the eare where this was found! I know that these sites are as rare as hens teeth so I need some advice please?:)

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[the invisible man]

A date would be useful!

[BAJR Host]

Regarding your enquiry on Britarch, you could try contacting Randy Donahue at Bradford University (for contact details see
http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/archsci/cgi-bin/staff.cgi?redonahu). He has been directing fieldwork on Mesolithic sites in and around Malham (N.Yks) for several years.

John Walford

[BAJR Host]

The best bets would be Dr Chantal Conneller of Queen's College,
Cambridge, who did her research on lithics from the Vale of Pickering,

or Don Henson of the CBA, who did his research (but much longer ago) on Neolithic flintwork.

[BAJR Host]

As well as Penny Spikins, you could try Randy Donahue at the University of Bradford who has undertaken much work in the Yorkshire Dales. What kind of information do you need? I may be able to help depending upon what is required. I worked with Randy during my undergraduate degree, and spent my placement year looking at some
of the assemblages. However, this was some years ago, and I would not go so far as to say I was an expert.

Regards,
Helen

[Petethedig]

Thank you all for your quick replies! I've emailed Penny yesterday on the advice of David so I'll wait to see if I get a reply. Obviously from your posts I'll try Randy if this is not a productive avenue.
It would be helpful to know what distinguishes a Meso site? What do you look for that shows you that you may be in a settlement (transitory or otherwise) in an area that seems to provide all the requirements needed to support a migratory existence?
Evidence is the liths I've found and had recorded by PAS, all within a specific area as already stated.

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[achingknees]

Ideally you would need to find diagnostic formal tools such as microliths (backed and/or truncated bladelets), drill bits or a tranchet axe. Technological assessment of the non-tools can provide some indications of chronology e.g. use of bladelet technology.

By 'point' do you refer to microlith points or just something a bit pointy?

[Petethedig]

By point I mean a worked flint that is more like the shape of an arrow or small spear at 5cm in length and 3cm in width. What size would you imagine microliths to be?

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[achingknees]

Hi

Do you mean retouched into the shape of an arrow, or a flake just looking a bit like one? If the former it's neolithic or BA, if the latter, probably just a pointy flake ;)

Microliths are usually retouched bladelets (defined metrically as <12mm in width) so in the order of 9-10mm wide. However, in the Later Mesolithic small flakes were sometimes also retouched into microliths.

[Petethedig]

Wel then I have some microliths as well as a retouched flint arrow head. Its looking better all the time!

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[Petethedig]

Well then here's a question for you BAJR? How many emails do you have to send to get any replies to the possible discovery of a Mesolithic site? Does anyone reply to their mail these days?
Perhaps I will just leave it now I think, better things to do with my time. Sad eh?

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[BAJR Host]

Looks like I am getting them all instead...

when I get back from Kenya I will phone them and give them your email directly!!

BAJR

[Petethedig]

Tis OK I've contacted the local guy David Evans who runs the SMR. He's going to talk to my FLO Kurt Adams about the site. To be honest he scared the pants out of me and started to mention Scheduling. Now tell me how do you schedule a site that is really a scatter of liths? Not that many liths either so far(13)? Had a nice chat with Gail Boyle from Bristol Museum, really helpful and pleasant to talk too! I've managed to get Kurt to Talk to David and see where it goes from there.
Interesting so far, I'll keep you informed!

The diary of a Mesolithic site! (and how to deal with SMR'S?!):)

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[BAJR Host]

TAkes a lot more than that to schedule a site... a lot more.

But if this turns out to be a meso site.... then I would personally schedule it with my bleeding body.

In terms of importance a meso site beats 5 villas!!

[Petethedig]

I'm sure it will enter the SMR and that will be about it, which will make me happy and the farmer too! The Liths are going to go to Bristol City Museum so they'll be available for study and display.
Most of all I'll be happy that the picture will develop a little more of the area where I live.

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[the invisible man]

BAJR, is that a typo for 50 villas?:D

No doubt that an SMR entry will be made (or HER!) Pete, but I can't see the farmer being terribly tickled about having a scheduled site on his land.

Pete, what is the nature of your fieldwork, is it a society fieldwalking project? No reason other than interest for asking.

[BAJR Host]

See were your period butter is spread!

you meso man you :)

[the invisible man]

Actually I prefer to spread my butter a little later, but certainly before the fascists in skirts arrive, come over here with their poncy stone buildings, hoity toity writing, namby pamby roads, soppy aqueducts..........}:)

[Petethedig]

I'm a rare breed me Mr Invisible, you see I'm a Metal Detectorist. I like to think of myself as a responsible one too, whatever that means these days. I record my finds with PAS with NGR's and the ability for any of my finds to end up in the museum if needed. Whilst I'm detecting I tend to keep my eyes open as a field walker might and also record the find spots of anything not natural. Expect I'll get a few curt replies now I've come out of the closet eh?:)
Sounds odd doesn't it that a metal detectorist should find a Stone age site! Had a wee on through a hedge once to find there was an electric cattle wire live on the other side! Walked home with a limp!

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[the invisible man]

A limp what?[:0] - no no no sorry, didn't mean it BAJR!

I don't think you'll find anyone here is hostile to your activities Pete, you seem to be doing the Right Things. It's the rogue nighthawks that are the menace. I see metal detectors as another form of non-intrusive survey - geofizz, as Baldric would say. My partner actually bought me a detector for Christmas, bless her (not a very expensive one!). I shall play happily on the spoil heap with it in the summer!

I haven't found the setting for microliths yet though......

[Petethedig]

Now then! The setting for micro-liths is eyes wide open and pick up everything! Fortunately where I live flint has to be imported so its easy to spot.
The vast majority of detectorist hate nighthawks for much the same reasons as your good selves. They are in my view not detectorist but thieves and should be treated as such. They rob us all of our joint heritage. I do feel strongly about detectorist who do not record their finds too, but they certainly have the right to be that way but whether thats morally justified is a whole different ball game?
The good thing about detecting is that most of it 99% is done in the plough soil (upper lens) which has been so disturbed that I view what I do as rescue archaeology rather than wrenching artefact's out of any context.
If you have any problems with your new toy then give me a shout!

Evil to him who thinks evil.

[BAJR Host]

Nice answer Pete... nice answer!

let him with eyes open ....etc!