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The Interpretation of Mesolithic Structures in Britain: New Evidence from Criet Dubh, Isle of Mull, & Alternative Approaches to Chronological Analysis for Inferring Occupation Tempos & Settlement Patterns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2018

Steven Mithen ,
Karen Wicks  and
With a contribution from ANNE PIRIE
Steven Mithen*
Affiliation:
University of Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH
Karen Wicks
Affiliation:
University of Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH
<span class='italic'>With a contribution from</span> ANNE PIRIE
Affiliation:
University of Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH
*
Corresponding author: Steven Mithen Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The number of Mesolithic structures known in Britain has significantly increased since 2000, providing new opportunities for economic and social interpretations of this period. We describe a further structure, represented by features from the Mesolithic site of Criet Dubh, Isle of Mull. We compare the inferred Criet Dubh structure to other Mesolithic structures from Britain, notably those described as ‘pit-houses’. We then consider the implications of the radiocarbon dates from such structures for the tempo of occupation and past settlement patterns. While the use of Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates has encouraged interpretations of prolonged occupation and sedentism, we propose alternative interpretations with patterns of intermittent occupation for Criet Dubh and the pit-houses, involving their re-use after extended periods of abandonment within a sparsely populated landscape. The ability to debate such interpretations reflects the transformation in Mesolithic research made possible by the discovery of such structures, the use of multiple radiocarbon determinations, the application of Bayesian analysis, and the exploration of associations between cultural and environmental change. These developments have made the Mesolithic a particularly innovative period of study.

Résumé

Interprétation des structures mésolithiques en Grande-Bretagne: nouveaux témoignages de Criet Dubh, île de Mull et nouvelles approches de l’analyse chronologique pour déduire les tempos d’occupation et la dynamique des implantations de Steven Mithen et Karen Wicks

Le nombre de structures mésolithiques connues en Grande-Bretagne a fortement augmenté depuis l‘an 2000, ce qui nous offre de nouvelles opportunités d’interprétations économiques et sociales de cette période. Nous décrivons une structure supplémentaire représentée par des traits du site mésolithique de Criet Dubh ,île de Mull. Nous comparons la structure déduite de Criet Dubh à d’autres structures mésolithiques de Grande-Bretagne, notamment à celles décrites par Waddington et Bonsal (2016) comme des maisons-fosses. Nous considérons ensuite les implications des dates au C14 de telles structures pour le tempo des occupations et la dynamique des implantations passées. Tandis que l’utilisation de l’analyse bayesienne des datations au C14 conduit vers des interprétations d’occupation prolongée et de sédentarisme, nous proposons d’autres interprétations avec des configurations d’occupation intermittante pour Criet Dubh et les maisons-fosses, ce qui implique leur réutilisation après de longues périodes d’abandon à l’intérieur d’un paysage à population parsemée. La possibilité de débattre de telles interprétations reflète la transformation dans la recherche mésolithique rendue possible par la découverte de telles structures, l’utilisation de multiples déterminations au C14, l’application de l’analyse bayesienne et l’exploration des associations entre changements culturels et environnementaux. Ces évolutions ont fait du mésolithique une période d’étude particulièrement innovatrice.

Zussamenfassung

Die Interpretation mesolithischer Strukturen in Großbritannien: Neue Daten aus Criet Dubh, Isle of Mull, und alternative Ansätze zur chronologischen Analyse für die Bestimmung von Besiedlungsgeschwindigkeit und Siedlungsstrukturen, von Steven Mithen und Karen Wicks

Seit dem Jahr 2000 hat die Zahl mesolithischer Strukturen in Großbritannien deutlich zugenommen, was neue Möglichkeiten für ökonomische und soziale Untersuchungen dieser Epoche bietet. Wir stellen hier eine weitere Struktur vor, bestehend aus Befunden von der mesolithischen Fundstelle von Criet Dubh, Isle of Mull. Wir vergleichen die erschlossene Struktur von Criet Dubh mit anderen mesolithischen Strukturen Großbritanniens, insbesondere jenen, die Waddington und Bonsall (2016) als „Grubenhäuser“ beschrieben. Wir erörtern anschließend, welche Hinweise die Radiokarbondaten aus solchen Strukturen auf die Besiedlungsgeschwindigkeit und die Siedlungsstrukturen jener Zeit geben. Während die Bayes’sche Modellierung von C14-Daten Schlussfolgerungen auf lange Phasen von Besiedlung und Sesshaftigkeit nahegelegt haben, schlagen wir alternative Interpretationen vor mit Rhythmen unterbrochener Nutzung von Criet Dubh und der Grubenhäuser, einschließlich ihrer Wiedernutzung nach Phasen längerer Auflassung, in einer nur dünn besiedelten Landschaft. Dass wir in der Lage sind solche Interpretationen zu diskutieren, zeigt den Wandel in der Erforschung des Mesolithikums, der durch die Entdeckung solcher Strukturen ermöglicht wurde wie auch durch die Anwendung zahlreicher Radiokarbonbestimmungen, durch die Bayes’sche Analyse und durch die Untersuchung der Zusammenhänge zwischen kulturellen und ökologischen Veränderungen. Diese Entwicklungen machen das Mesolithikum zu einer besonders innovativen Forschungsepoche.

Resumen

La interpretación de las estructuras mesolíticas en Gran Bretaña: nueves evidencias de Criet Dubh, isla de Mull, y enfoques alternativos al análisis cronológico para inferir los tiempos de ocupación y los patrones de asentamiento, por Steven Mithen y Karen Wicks

El número de estructuras mesolíticas conocidas en Gran Bretaña se ha incrementado significativamente desde el año 2000, aportando nuevas oportunidades para las interpretaciones económicas y sociales de este período. Describimos una nueva estructura, identificada por elementos constructivos en el asentamiento mesolítico de Criet Dubh, en la isla de Mull. Comparamos la estructura inferida en Criet Dubh con otras documentadas en Gran Bretaña, especialmente aquéllas descritas por Waddington & Bonsall (2016) como ‘casas-hoyo’. A continuación consideramos las implicaciones de las dataciones de radiocarbono de estas estructuras para establecer el momento de ocupación y los patrones de asentamiento anteriores. A pesar de que el uso del análisis bayesiano ha fomentado la interpretación de ocupaciones prolongadas y del sedentarismo, se proponen interpretaciones alternativas con patrones de ocupaciones intermitentes para Criet Dubh y las ‘casas-hoyo’, que implican su reutilización después de largos períodos de abandono en el marco de un paisaje escasamente poblado. La posibilidad de poder debatir estas interpretaciones refleja hasta qué punto se ha transformado la investigación sobre el Mesolítico gracias al descubrimiento de estas estructuras, al uso de múltiples determinaciones de radiocarbono, a la aplicación del análisis bayesiano, y a la exploración de las asociaciones entre cambio cultural y medioambiental. Estos desarrollos han hecho del Mesolítico un período de estudio particularmente innovador.

Keywords

Mesolithic structuresOccupation tempospopulation densitiessettlement patterns
Type
Articles
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 84 , December 2018 , pp. 77 - 110
Copyright
© The Prehistoric Society 2018 

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