Star Carr
Published on 31. May 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
124 pages
978-1-902771-99-1 (ISBN)
Description
Star Carr is one of the most famous and important prehistoric sites in Europe. Dating from the early Mesolithic period, over 10,000 years ago, the site has produced a unique range of artefacts and settlement evidence. First excavated in 1949-51 by Professor Grahame Clark of Cambridge University, the site was buried in a deep layer of peat on the edge of prehistoric Lake Flixton. The peat has preserved an incredible collection of organic artefacts, including bone, wood and antler, as well as thousands of flint tools. This has allowed archaeo-logists to build up a detailed picture of life on the edge of the lake around 9000 BC. New excavations have now revealed the remains of what may be the earliest house ever found in Britain, and have shown that the settlement stretched for several hundred metres along the lake shore.
This book tells the story of the discovery of Star Carr, and brings it up-to-date with details of the current excavations. It also discusses other important Mesolithic sites in Britain and Europe and how these are transforming our view of life after the Ice Age.
This book tells the story of the discovery of Star Carr, and brings it up-to-date with details of the current excavations. It also discusses other important Mesolithic sites in Britain and Europe and how these are transforming our view of life after the Ice Age.
More details
Persons
Nicky Milner is a Professor at the University of York, specialising in the Mesolithic period. She has co-directed excavations at Star Carr since 2004. Barry Taylor is a Post-Doctoral research assistant at the University of York. He has worked on sites in the Star Carr area since 1995 and has co-directed excavations at the site since 2004. His research focuses on reconstructing past environments. Chantal Conneller is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods, with a special interest in stone tool technology. She has co-directed excavations at Star Carr since 2004. Tim Schadla-Hall is a Reader in Public Archaeology at the institute of Archaeology, University College London. He has worked extensively on Mesolithic sites in the Vale of Pickering and has been fieldwork Director of the Vale of Pickering Research Trust since 1985.
Content
1 Introduction The importance of Star Carr The importance of peat The Mesolithic and Star Carr 2 The Mesolithic Introduction Setting the scene Technology Human behaviour Conclusions 3 Star Carr: the history of discoveries Introduction John Moore Grahame Clark The Vale of Pickering Research Trust 4 The Star Carr landscape Introduction Mapping the hidden landscape A changing landscape through the Mesolithic Conclusion 5 Reconstructing life at Star Carr 11,000 years ago Introduction Life at Star Carr, 9000 BC 6 Glossary 7 Acknowledgements 8 The authors 9 Bibliography