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The Mesolithic and the Planning Process in England

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The Mesolithic and the Planning Process in England The Mesolithic and the Planning Process in England Volume 1 of 2 Edward Hillier Blinkhorn PhD University of York Archaeology January 2012 Abstract This thesis examines the situation of Mesolithic archaeology in the commercial sector as it was encountered under the aegis of PPG 16 in England, from 1990 to 2009. 1280 interventions make up the dataset, exclusively produced by developer-led investigations, and are derived from the grey literature. The large amount of fieldwork that is conducted in the commercial sector far outstrips that conducted by academics. Consequently, the large amount of reports that have been produced, and the nature of their archiving, has left academics and the public with little knowledge of the work that has been conducted. Therefore, this thesis represents a necessary and timely response to a neglected dataset. Three main themes are investigated. Firstly, the varied methodologies and the sequence of investigation are assessed for beneficial and detrimental aspects of fieldwork as it is conducted on projects incorporating solely Mesolithic archaeology and that of all periods. Secondly, communication between academia and the commercial sectors is assessed from the perspective of the grey literature, detailing strong points and shortcomings therein. Finally, the archaeological remains that have been reported on are examined, both to characterise the nature of Mesolithic archaeology from developer- funded projects and to examine the potential that it has to change interpretations of the period. 2 Table of Contents - Volume 1 Abstract.................................................................................................................................. 2 List of Tables........................................................................................................................10 List of Figures.......................................................................................................................11 Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................. 14 1 Loss of Innocence: The Nature of the Problem.........................................................16 1.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................16 1.1.1 Aims and Objectives...................................................................................17 1.2 Importance of the Mesolithic.............................................................................. 18 1.3 Importance of Development.............................................................................. 21 1.4 Importance of Fieldwork.....................................................................................22 1.5 Importance of Publishing.....................................................................................24 1.6 Archaeology as Research and Archaeology as a Planning Reality.................. 28 1.7 The Archaeological Schism................................................................................ 28 1.8 Structure of Thesis...............................................................................................30 2 The Academic Meso lithic........................................................................................... 33 2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 33 2.2 Discovery.............................................................................................................33 2.3 Environment........................................................................................................ 35 2.4 Animals................................................................................................................40 2.5 Lithics.................................................................................................................. 43 2.5.1 Microliths.................................................................................................... 44 2.5.2 Macroliths................................................................................................... 47 2.5.3 Discussion................................................................................................... 47 2.6 Other Artefacts.................................................................................................... 48 2.6.1 Utilitarian.................................................................................................... 48 2.6.2 Non-Utilitarian........................................................................................... 49 2.7 Features................................................................................................................ 50 2.7.1 Structures..................................................................................................... 50 2.7.2 Wood............................................................................................................ 52 2.7.3 Tree Throws................................................................................................. 2.7.4 Pits.............................................................................................................. .. 2.7.5 Hearths.......................................................................................................... 3 2.7.6 Miscellanea.................................................................................................. 54 2.7.7 Natural Features......................................................................................... 55 2.8 Spatial Intelligence, Theories and Themes...................................................... 56 2.8.1 Economics................................................................................................... 57 2.8.2 Processualism..............................................................................................58 2.8.3 Seasonality.................................................................................................. 59 2.8.4 Settlement...................................................................................................61 2.8.5 Landscape................................................................. 62 2.8.6 Recent Developments.................................................................................64 2.9 Conclusion...........................................................................................................65 3 Developer-led Archaeology in Context......................................................................67 3.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 67 3.2 History of emergency fieldwork........................................................................67 3.2.1 Development of the Rescue System........................................................... 68 3.3 Policy and Legislation and Funding..................................................................71 3.3.1 Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning......................72 3.3.2 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.......................75 3.3.3 Funding....................................................................................................... 78 3.4 Stratification of archaeological investigation.....................................................80 3.4.1 Appraisals.................................................................................................... 81 3.4.2 Desk Based Assessments (DBAs).............................................................82 3.4.3 Environmental impact Assessments (ElAs)..............................................83 3.4.4 Field Evaluations........................................................................................ 84 3.4.5 Mitigation Strategies...................................................................................89 3.4.6 Post-Excavation.......................................................................................... 92 3.4.7 Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) / Historic Environment Record (HER) ................................................................. 93 3.5 Trends in Fieldwork............................................................................................94 3.5.1 Theory and Sampling....................................................................................95 3.6 Conclusion...........................................................................................................99 4 Methodology...............................................................................................................101 4.1 Introduction........................................................................................................101 4.2 Data Identification............................................................................................. 101 4.3 Data Availability............................................................................................... 105 4 4.3.1 Units.......................................................................................................... 4.3.2 HERs..........................................................................................................106 4.3.3 Copyright................................................................................................... 107 4.4 Data Collection.................................................................................................
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