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A Final Upper Palaeolithic Site at La Sagesse Convent, Romsey, Hampshire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Chantal Conneller ,
Chris Ellis ,
Michael J. Allen ,
Richard Macphail  and
Robert Scaife
Chantal Conneller
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeology, School of Arts, Histories & Cultures, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL
Chris Ellis
Affiliation:
Wessex Archaeology, Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury SP4 6EB
Michael J. Allen
Affiliation:
Allen Environmental Archaeology, Redroof, Green Road, Codford BA12 0NW
Richard Macphail
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1B 0PY
Robert Scaife
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ
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Abstract

Excavations at La Sagesse Convent, Romsey, uncovered a Final Upper Palaeolithic flint assemblage representing an open-air, short-term camp. The site is in the Test Valley on a low gravel terrace at the edge of the river system. Two scatters were found. Although not in situ, little lateral movement is indicated for at least one of these scatters from which several core reduction sequences could be determined through a programme of refitting. The other scatter appears to have suffered more post-depositional disturbance. One scatter appears to have functioned as a knapping station, while the other may have been an area of tool production. Chronological, technological, and cultural affinities are discussed and it is concluded that the flint assemblage belongs with the Final Upper Palaeolithic Hengistbury-type industries, probably dating to the second part of the Windermere interstadial (c. 12,500–11,000 cal BC; 12,000–11,000 BP).

Résumé

Des fouilles au couvent de la Sagesse, à Romsey dans le Hampshire, ont mis au jour un assemblage de silex du paléolithique final qui représentait un campement ouvert de courte durée. Ce site se trouve dans la vallée de la Test, sur une basse terrasse de gravier en bordure du système fluvial. On a trouvé deux dispersions. Bien qu'elles n'étaient pas in situ, on n'a constaté que peu de déplacement latéral pour au moins l'une de ces dispersions pour laquelle on a pu, grâce à un programme de reconstruction, déterminer plusieurs longues séquences de réduction de noyau. L'autre dispersion semble avoir été légèrement plus perturbée après avoir été déposée. Une dispersion semble avoir servi d'atelier de taille tandis que l'autre était peut-être une zone de production d'outils. On discute de leurs affinités chronologiques, technologiques et culturelles et on en conclut que cet assemblage de silex appartient aux industries de type Hengistbury du paléolithique final et date probablement de la seconde partie de l'interstade de Windermere (vers 12 500–11 000 av. J.-C. cal., 12 000–11 000 avant le présent).

Résumen

Excavaciones en La Sagesse Convent, Romsey, Hampshire, han puesto al descubierto un conjunto de objetos de sílex del Paleolítico Final que representa un campamento temporal al aire libre. El yacimiento está en el Test Valley en una terraza de gravilla en la orilla de un sistema fluvial. Se encontraron dos concentraciones. Aunque no in situ, al menos en el caso de una de las concentraciones hay pocos indicadores de movimiento lateral, y de esta se han podido establecer varias largas secuencias de reducción de núcleos a través de un programa de reensamblaje. La otra concentración parece haber sufrido más movimiento post-deposicional. Una concentración parece haber servido como estación de talla mientras que la otra puede haber sido la zona de producción de utensilios. Este trabajo trata de las afinidades cronológicas, tecnológicas y culturales y concluye que el conjunto de instrumentos de sílex pertenece a las industrias del Paleolítico Final tipo Hengistbury, probablemente en la segunda mitad del interestadial Windermere (ca. 12,500–11,000 cal BC; 12–11,000 BP.

Zusammenfassung

Ausgrabungen in La Sagesse Convent, Romsey, Hampshire haben ein Endpaläolithisches Feuersteininventar erbracht, das auf einen kurzzeitigen Freilandlagerplatz hindeutet. Die Fundstelle liegt auf einer niedrigen Kiesterrasse am Rande eines Flusssystems im Test Tal. Insgesamt wurden zwei Fundstreuungen entdeckt, die aber nicht mehr in situ waren. Dabei zeigte eine Fundstreuung wenig Lateralbewegung, die andere jedoch starke Störungen. Dennoch kann eine Streuung wahrscheinlich als Schlagplatz und die andere als Produktionsstelle für Werkzeuge interpretiert werden. Im Artikel werden dann chronologische, technologische und kulturelle Entsprechungen diskutiert und geschlussfolgert, dass das Feuersteininventar zum Endpaläolithikum der Feuersteinindustrien vom Hengistbury-Typ gehört und wahrscheinlich in die 2. Hälfte des Windermere Interstadials datiert (ca. 12,500–11,000 cal BC; 12–11,000 BP).

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 73 , 2007 , pp. 191 - 227
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2007

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