9.3.2 Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic

British Geological Survey (BGS) mapping provides a good starting point for understanding site distribution in the Mesolithic as indicated by mapped extents of raised tidal flat and marine deposits. Detailed stratigraphic evidence from a sequence of buried estuarine deposits, buried peat and overlying estuarine deposits at Wester Rhynd in Lower Strathearn suggests the occurrence of two brief marine incursions between the abandonment by the sea of a buried estuarine flat, probably the Low Buried Beach, at about 8765 ± 75 BP, and around 8500 BP. The marine diatom, lithostratigraphic and radiocarbon evidence together are consistent with a storm, storm-surge or tsunami origin for these events (Cullingford et al 1989). The Main Holocene Transgression in the region occurred towards the end of the Mesolithic period (Ballantyne and Dawson 2003) and was associated with a rapid rise in relative sea level which led to a rise of 9–12m (Cullingford et al 1980; Dawson and Cressey 2010).

Maximum inundation at the time of the Main post-glacial Transgression at Freeland Farm site ©️ Archaeology Reports Online, 2019

A post glacial shoreline study undertaken by Dundee University used height data and find spots to accurately plot the water level of the lower sections of the rivers Tay and Earn (Dawson et al 2014). This study was used as a basis for fieldwalking as part of the Tay Landscape Partnership scheme to target areas around the Tay estuary affected by shoreline displacement during the Mesolithic period. Areas targeted include Pitroddie and East Inchmichael Farm north of the estuary, Easter Clunie and Freeland Farm towards the south, and Scone Estate, north-east of Perth, approximately 2km from the River Tay. The study of the lithics recovered revealed distinct patterns in the extent to which the artefacts had been abraded by water. Those retrieved from lower lying sites were more likely to be abraded, and to pre-date the Main Holocene Transgression, than those from sites at higher elevations (Nicol and Ballin 2019).

Research Questions

PKARF Qu 9.4: How could the integration of microstratigraphy and geoarchaeological techniques (as in Mithen et al. 2015) aid the identification and timing of Mesolithic activity in Perth and Kinross?

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https://scarf.scot/researchframework/v1/question/question-6308edd3d8ca8
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Date accepted:
01/06/2022
Date of next review:
01/06/2025
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Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
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PKARF Qu 9.5: How can we use existing resources (BGS boreholes, geotechnical reports) to enhance our understanding of the landscape at the start of the Holocene period to better understand the distribution of archaeological sites in the region?

More information on this question
URI:
https://scarf.scot/researchframework/v1/question/question-6308edd3d94ad
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/06/2022
Date of next review:
01/06/2025
Linked Strategy(s):
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
Categories: