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The Valdoe: Archaeology of a Locality within the Boxgrove Palaeolandscape, West Sussex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Matthew Pope ,
Mark Roberts ,
Andrew Maxted  and
Pat Jones
Matthew Pope
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H OPY
Mark Roberts
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H OPY
Andrew Maxted
Affiliation:
Sussex Institute, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9RF
Pat Jones
Affiliation:
Sussex Institute, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9RF
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Abstract

A programme of archaeological assessment, funded through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, was undertaken at the Valdoe Quarry in West Sussex ahead of a renewed and final stage of gravel extraction at the site. This paper gives an account of the evidence for human activity recovered in the course of this work. The analysis demonstrates that the Valdoe Quarry contained archaeology relating to the transport and modification of bifaces. These signatures formed part of wider patterns of land-use operated by the same hominin groups found at Boxgrove, within a single, developing palaeolandscape. It is concluded that further activity sites remain to be discovered within the general environs of the Valdoe and the parish of East Lavant where historically there have been surface finds of bifaces.

Résumé

Un programme d'évaluation archéologique, financé par Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, a été entrepris dans la carrière de Valdoe dans l'East Sussex avant la reprise, pour une dernière phase, de l'extraction de gravier sur le site. Cette étude rend compte des témoignages d'activité humaine recouvrés au cours de ces travaux. L'analyse démontre que la carrière de Valdoe contenait une archéologie en rapport avec le transport et la modification de bifaces. Ces signatures faisaient partie d'un schéma plus étendu d'utilisation des terres exécuté par les mêmes groupes d'hominidés que ceux trouvés à Boxgrove, à l'intérieur d'un seul paléo-paysage en évolution. On en conclut que d'autres sites d'activités restent à découvrir dans les environs généraux de Valdoe et de la paroisse d'East Lavant où on a retrouvé des haches de poing en surface au cours de l'histoire.

Zusammenfassung

Un programa de evaluación arqueológica, financiado por el Fondo de Sostenibilidad de Aggregates Levy, ha sido llevado a cabo en la Cantera Valdoe en East Sussex, antes de una reanudación y fase final de extracción de gravilla en el yacimiento. Este trabajo presenta la evidencia de actividad humana que fue recuperada durante la evaluación. El análisis demuestra que la Cantera Valdoe contenía arqueología relacionada con el transporte y modificación de bifaces. Estas huellas formaban parte de modelos más amplios de uso del terreno, operados por los mismos grupos de homíninos encontrados en Boxgrove, dentro de un único paleopaisaje en desarrollo. Se concluye que quedan por descubrir otros sitos de actividad dentro del entorno general del Valdoe y del distrito de East Lavant, donde históricamente se han dado hallazgos de superficie de hachas.

Zusammenfassung

Ein vom Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund finanziertes archäologisches Evaluierungsprogramm wurde im Valdoe Steinbruch in East Sussex im Zuge einer erneuten und letzten Phase des dortigen Kiesabbaus durchgeführt. Dieser Beitrag berichtet über die dabei entdeckten und dokumentierten Hinterlassenschaften menschlicher Aktivitäten. Die Analyse zeigt, dass im Valdoe Steinbruch archäologisches Material gefunden wurde, das im Zusammenhang mit dem Transport und Modifikation von Bifacien gesehen werden muss. Diese Kennzeichen sind ein Teil einer großräumigeren Landnutzung, die von den gleichen Hominidengruppen herrühren, die in Boxgrove gefunden worden sind, und innerhalb einer einzigen, sich entwickelnden Paläolandschaft verstanden werden müssen. Es wird zusammengefasst, dass weitere Fundplätze menschlicher Aktivitäten innerhalb der näheren Umgebung von Valdoe und der Gemeinde von East Lavant, wo allgemein in der Vergangenheit Oberflächenfunde von Faustkeilen gemacht worden sind, gefunden und erforscht werden müssen.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 75 , 2009 , pp. 239 - 263
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2009

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