The recommendations below apply specifically to the Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods in the Highlands. Some research questions in the Land and Environment section 3.10 may also apply to the this period.
Many research recommendations from the original National ScARF and other regional research frameworks are also relevant and applicable in the Highlands. These will soon be all be searchable and available all together through our new digital platform facility.
HARF Agenda 4.1: A detailed dating programme is recommended. Many of the sites for this period are long-lived and multi-period, and targeted dating is necessary in order to demonstrate both trends and change over time.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.10: Multi-proxy isotope and aDNA studies of animal bones should be encouraged to shed light on early human populations
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.11: Further analysis of lithic collections, including identification of Palaeolithic lithics.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.12: Further work at known Highland sites to include dating and enviromental studies (such as Smoo Cave, northwest Sutherland, South Cuidrach on Skye and Shieldaig, Western Ross).
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.13: More attention is needed to locate inland sites by exploring major river courses and investigation of forestry plantation sites,
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.14: More attention is required to locate sites in the eastern farmlands for example around Nairn
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.15: Dating and better understanding of diagnostic artefacts is needed to understand artefactual sequences,
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.16: Further work in identifying and recording lithic sites especially those at risk of erosion like Redpoint, Wester Ross,
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.17: Further work at sites like Tarradale may be able to shed light on the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.19: Work to fill gaps in our diagnostic lexicons, such as artefacts of the later Mesolithic is necessary
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHaRF Agenda 4.2: An increased database, through targeted fieldwalking as well as incidental finds recognised during other archaeological work, would be beneficial to understanding of the area.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.20: Highland evidence for diagnostic raw materials such as bloodstone from Rum, mudstone from Skye and pitchstone from Arran should be synthesised to shed light on movements during the Mesolithic.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.21: The transition between broad and narrow blade technologies in the Highlands should be investigated.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.22: The rarity of human remains in the Mesolithic is an issue across Scotland and attention should be paid to likely well preserved site like rock shelters to recover more human remains.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.23: Subject lithics and other artefacts to the full range of specialised techniques such as microwear, residues, isotope and other analyses
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.24: The study of old collections can provide new insights
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.3: The identification of further Late Upper Palaeolithic sites in the region would be particularly beneficial in terms of improved understanding of the earliest settlement in the area.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.4: The intertidal zone and submerged landscapes hold the potential for good preservation, and should be targeted for archaeological research.
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.5: More Mesolithic sites need to be identified in the Highland region
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.6: The intertidal zone and submerged landscapes hold the potential for good preservation, and should be targeted for archaeological research
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.7: More multiproxy studies are required to understand the changes and fluctuations over time of the world in which people lived
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.8: Focus should be given to geographical gaps – such as Badenoch and Strathspey, northwest Sutherland, Nairn and the Great Glen
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Agenda 4.9: Geoscience Research relating to deglaciation and environmental change should be summarised and made available to archaeology
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkAre there research recommendations that you think are missing?
Why not add your comment below which will be flagged to ScARF (or get in touch with ScARF directly) and new recommendations will be considered for addition at the next revision.