The research questions below derive from the archaeological research baseline presented in Chapter 4 Palaeolithic and Mesolithic of the South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework.
Please also consider the research questions raised in Chapter 2 Archaeological Practice and Chapter 3 Land and Environment of the South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework.
Many of the research recommendations from the original National ScARF and other regional research frameworks are also relevant and applicable in South West Scotland.
Palaeolithic
1. Can we identify any substantive presence of Palaeolithic peoples within the region?
2. Where a presence beyond a single artefact is identified, what can this inform us as to the scale, character and purpose of this human activity at this time? Further, how does this compare or contrast with our neighbouring regions?
3. Can we recognise one or more extra-regional sources for the episodic presence of these communities in our region?
4. Can re-examination of museum assemblages identify additional Palaeolithic material that can broaden our understanding?
5. Once we have more evidence for activity in this period, can we model or predict those depositional environments that are more likely to retain this?
Mesolithic
6. Can we recognise in our archaeological record any evidence for the extra-regional origin of the first enduring Early Mesolithic population? How does this compare with the Palaeolithic connections? Further, is there evidence for multiple and/or later population movements between regions?
7. Separate from population movement, can we refine the patterning of cultural affinities and connections with neighbouring or more distant regions through material culture? How does this compare with the Palaeolithic connections?
8. Can we develop a regional typology for lithic assemblages that recognises discrete repertoires of tool types and reduction strategies? If so, how do these change or alter through the period and is there preferential deployment of certain tool types between geographically or environmentally distinct locations (e.g. inland/coastal)?
9. Through the patterning of raw material acquisition and use, can we recognise either movement of raw materials or of finished objects? Further, from the archaeological record is there any suggestion that this reflects the mobility of individuals/communities or exchange networks?
10. Can the lack of shell middens be shown to reflect different exploitation strategies in the region when compared to neighbouring ones? Where shell middens are present or recorded historically, can they be shown to date from this period and inform on resource exploitation?
11. Given the emerging corpus of structures, can a coherent regional typology be constructed? Within this typology, can durable dwellings be identified and if so, what are the consequences for the traditional model of seasonal/range mobility for communities?
12. Where large scale processing of hazelnuts is identified, can this be linked to specific environmental or cultural factors, including decisions around settlement type and permanence?
13. Can environmental and material culture evidence seasonal mobility of communities? Further, can this mobility be shown to encompass a coherent range, use water crossings and/or extend beyond our region?
14. Can environmental and material culture evidence create a discrete, regional picture of subsistence for our communities? If so, can the pattern of resource exploitation be shown to change over time?
15. Should any human skeletal material be identified, what can this tell us of the diet, health and genetic origin of the individual? What can the recovery context tell us about the community’s treatment of their dead?
16. Can we recognise structured deposition in pits during the late Mesolithic? If so, can this be shown to be the precursor of comparable Neolithic activity?
17. Can we identify chronological overlap in late Mesolithic populations or cultural traits with the early Neolithic populations in our region? If so, can we recognise the retention or assimilation of Mesolithic characteristics within the emerging Neolithic tradition?
18. Can we re-examine museum assemblages, particularly unanalysed multi-period lithic assemblages, or unreported excavation assemblages, rehabilitate currently inaccessible research materials that can broaden our understanding?
19. Where complex archaeological information is known from historic excavations, can we supplement this through single entity radiometric dating for suitable candidate assemblages? In particular, candidates may be most suitable from those assemblages dated using the bulk dating technique which was prevalent in the 60s to mid-90s.