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Mesolithic to Bronze Age Vegetation Change and Human Activity in the Exe Valley, Devon, UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

R.M. Fyfe ,
A.G. Brown  and
B.J. Coles
R.M. Fyfe
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Archaeology, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ
A.G. Brown
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Archaeology, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ
B.J. Coles
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Archaeology, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ
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Abstract

This paper presents the results of the first investigation of vegetation change and human activity from a river valley west of the Somerset Levels. The record is contrasted with the pollen and archaeological record from south-west uplands (Dartmoor and Exmoor) and the Somerset Levels. Vegetation change and archaeological evidence are shown to be generally consistent, with evidence from the middle valley of Mesolithic vegetation disturbance (with nearby lithics), Neolithic clearance of terraces and slopes in the lower valley and Neolithic–Bronze Age ceremonial and domestic activity, but in the upper reach the maintenance of wooded valley floor conditions probably with management until historic times. The valley floor and surrounding slope vegetation history is found to be significantly different to that of the uplands with lime and elm being significant components of the prehistoric woodland record. The data suggest that lime is restricted to terraces and lowlands below 200 m OD throughout the prehistoric period. The pollen data from the valley suggest the lowlands had a rich and mixed ecology providing a wide range of resources and that, despite less visible archaeological remains, human activity is manifest through palynological evidence from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age. The largest expanse of valley-floor terrace, the Nether Exe Basin, which was at least partially deforested in the early Neolithic contains a rich assemblage of Neolithic–Bronze Age ceremonial, funerary and domestic archaeology associated with an early and clear palynological record of woodland clearance, arable and pastoral activity.

Résumé

Cette étude présente les résultats d'une première investigation des changements dans la végétation et de l'activité humaine dans une vallée fluviale à l'ouest de la plaine des Somerset levels. Les résultats sont comparés aux résultats polliniques et archéologiques des hautes terres du sud-ouest (Dartmoor & Exmoor) et des Somerset levels. Il est apparu que les témoignages de changements dans la végétation et les vestiges archéologiques étaient en général consistants, avec des témoignages, provenant de la moyenne vallée, de perturbation de la végétation au mésolithique (avec des lithiques à proximité), de défrichage néolithique des terrasses et des versants de la vallée basse et d'activités cérémonielles et domestiques du néolithique – âge du bronze, mais dans la partie supérieure de la vallée ont persisté les conditions typiques d'une vallée boisée, probablement exploitée, jusqu'à la période historique. Il s'est avéré que l'histoire de la végétation du fond de la vallée et des pentes environnantes différait significativement de celle des hautes-terres, tilleuls et ormes constituant des composants non négligeables des résultats de la forêt préhistorique. Les données nous conduisent à penser que durant toute la période préhistorique les tilleuls se retrouvaient uniquement sur les terrasses et les basses-terres en-dessous de 200 m. Les données polliniques provenant de la vallée donnent à penser que les basses-terres avaient une écologie riche et variée, offrant une gamme étendue de ressources et que, bien que les vestiges archéologiques soient moins visibles, l'activité humaine se manifeste sous la forme de vestiges palynologiques allant du mésolithique à l'âge du bronze. La plus importante surface de terrasse de fond de vallée, le bassin inférieur de l'Exe, qui fut au moins partiellement déboisé au début du néolithique contient un riche assemblage d'archéologie cérémonielle, funéraire et domestique du néolithique-âge du bronze associé à un témoignage palynologique ancien et clair de déforestation et d'activités de culture et d'élevage.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Artikel präsentiert die Ergebnisse der ersten Untersuchung der Vegetationsveränderung und menschlichen Aktivität in einem Flusstal westlich der Somerset Ebene. Der Datensatz wird den Pollen und archäologischen Daten aus dem südwestlichen Hochland (Dartmoor und Exmoor) und aus der Somerset Ebene gegenüber gestellt. Vegetationsveränderung und archäologische Nachweise sind im allgemeinen konsistent, und zeigen eine mesolithische Störung der Vegetation im mittleren Talabschnitt (mit Steinartefakten in der Nähe), eine Beseitigung von Terrassen und Hängen während der Neolithikums und schließlich neolithisch-bronzezeitliche zeremonielle Aktivitäten und Siedlungstätigkeit; im höher gelegenen Bereich zeigt sich hingegen eine Pflege der bewaldeten Talsohle, die sich wahrscheinlich bis in die historische Zeit nachweisen lässt. Die Vegetationsgeschichte der Talsohle und der sie umgebenden Hänge, wo Linde und Ulme als signifikante Komponenten der prähistorischen Waldlandschaft nachgewiesen sind, unterscheidet sich sehr stark von der Vegetation des Hochlands. Die Daten deuten darauf hin, dass Linde während der gesamten prähistorischen Periode auf die Terrassen und das Tiefland unter 200 m u.M. beschränkt ist. Die Pollen-Daten aus dem Tal zeigen weiterhin, dass das Tiefland eine reiche und gemischte Ökologie mit einer großen Anzahl Resourcen aufwies, und dass sich trotz einer weniger sichtbaren menschlichen Aktivität in den archäologischen Hinterlassenschaften eine solche vom Mesolithikum bis zur Bronzezeit nachweisen lässt. Das Nether Ex Becken, das während des Frühen Neolithikums wenigstens teilweise abgeholzt war, bildet die größte Ausdehnung der Talsohlenterrasse und lieferte eine reiche Kollektion neolithisch-bronzezeitlicher archäologischen Hinterlassen¬schaften zu zeremoniellen, Grab- und Hauskontexten; Pollenanalysen konnten das Abholzen von Wald, Pflügen und Beweidung nachweisen.

Résumen

Este informe presenta los resultados de las primeras investigaciones acerca de los cambios en la vegetación y la actividad humana en un valle fluvial al oeste de los Somerset Levéis. Se compara el registro con los datos palinológicos y arqueológicos de las tierras altas del sudoeste (Dartmoor and Exmoor) y los Somerset Levéis. Se demuestra que los cambios en la vegetación y la evidencia arqueológica son generalmente consistentes, con evidencia de perturbaciones en la vegetación del valle medio durante el Mesolítico (con la presencia de objetos líticos en las cercanías), despeje de las terrazas y laderas en el valle bajo durante el Neolítico, y actividad ceremonial y doméstica durante el Neolítico-Edad del Bronce, mientras que se mantenían en las zonas altas las condiciones de suelos de valle boscoso probablemente bajo supervisión hasta tiempos históricos. La historia del suelo del valle y de la vegetación de ladera alrededor es significativamente distinta de la de las tierras altas, con tilo y haya como componentes más significativos en el registro del bosque prehistórico. Los datos sugieren que el tilo queda restringido a las terrazas y tierras por debajo de los 200 metros OD (Ordnance Datum) a lo largo de todo el periodo prehistórico. La evidencia del polen del valle sugiere que las tierras bajas tenían una ecología variada y rica que proporcionaba una amplia gama de recursos, y que, a pesar de ser menos visibles los restos arqueológicos, la actividad humana entre el Mesolítico y la Edad del Bronce queda manifiesta a través de la evidencia palinológica. La extensión más amplia de terraza en el suelo del valle, la cuenca del Nether Exe, que fue por lo menos parcialmente deforestada durante el primer Neolítico, contiene una rica colección de arqueología ceremonial, funeraria y doméstica del Neolítico-Edad del Bronce, asociada con un registro palinológico temprano y muy claro de deforestación, y actividad agraria y pastoral.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 69 , 2003 , pp. 161 - 181
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2003

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