Proc. Hants. Field Club Archaeol. Soc. 36, 1980, 25-33. 25

A ASSEMBLAGE AND ASSOCIATED PALYNOLOGICAL SEQUENCE AT GATCOMBE, ISLE OF WIGHT By DAVID TOMALIN AND R. G. SCAIFE

THE SITE The material may be summarised as follows: Gatcombe Withy Bed is situated in the Cores 28 River Medina Valley two miles south of Core rejuvenation flakes 7 Newport, adjacent to the area of Blackwater 5 Mill and Whitecroft Hospital (SZ 502858). spalls 3 The peats and sediments occurring here were End scrapers 56 chosen for detailed pollen and stratigraphical analyses in 1974 and subsequently found to Side scrapers 20 show the complete Flandrian vegetational Hollow scrapers 8 sequence. Notched flakes 16 In addition to pollen diagrams spanning the Denticulate flakes 3 whole period, a detailed close-sampled analysis Piercers 7 was undertaken to elucidate the events taking Awls 1 place in the Neolithic period. In order to do Burins 1 this the elm decline horizon was located in the Steeped end scrapers 7 peat stratigraphy and contiguous 2 mm Fabricators 2 samples were pollen analysed. A degree of Utilized flakes 20 resolution not usually found in pollen dia­ and 2 grams was thus obtained and has proved of 1 interest in relation to archaeological material Sickles obtained from within 100 metres of the mire. Waste 104 It is a selection of struck which is dis­ Push plane 1 cussed here; and a brief account is also given of 'the phases of activity distinguished Total 292 in the pollen record. Pollen diagrams and a full palaeoecological discussion will be pub­ Twenty-eight cores were recovered, of which lished at a later date (R.G.S.). two were indeterminate. Seven types were dis­ tinguished, of which two proved to be domi­ THE FLINT ASSEMBLAGE FROM nant: single platform cores used all the way GATCOMBE WEST round and bi-polar cores with parallel plat­ This material was gathered by fieldwalking forms. Five of the latter cores are columnar in immediately west of the palaeoecological site shape and have been used for the production at Gatcombe peat bog. The material was ob­ of long blades of character. tained between 1975 and 1978 and comprises Core rejuvenation flakes (Fig. 2. 7) a total of 288 struck flints. The material was These were divided equally between those exposed by ploughing in a field centred at SZ showing slicing of the core from top to bottom 501860 which descends from a gravel terrace and those struck obliquely. Two examples to the edge of the bog. Most of the material may belong to microlithic cores. was obtained from above the Lower Green- sand at the edge of the gravel terrace. The site Hammerstones name, Gatcombe West, serves to distinguish These were largely non-cortical and the this material from a larger assemblage recover­ small ones may have been utilized cores. ed from the Lower Greensand ridge im­ Weights were: 0.030 kg, 0.055 kg, 0.100 kg, mediately east of the bog and which will be 0.105 kg, 0.145 kg. Three spalls from ovoid the subject of a later report. hammerstones were also observed. 2(i HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Fig. 1. The location of the Gatcombe Peat Bog and adjacent flint assemblages. 1. Gatcombe West (present paper), 2. Gatcombe East, 3. Lower St Georges Down, 4. Rookley, 5. Marvel Lane, 6. Whitecroft, 7. Hungry Hill. D. TOMALIN AND R. G. SCAIFE: NEOLITHIC FLINT ASSEMBLAGE AT GATCOMBE 27

End scrapers (Fig. 2. 8) Denticulate flakes or saws (Fig. 2. 25-6) Length/breadth measurements (Bohmers Two examples show denticulate notches and Wouters 1956; Smith 1965) carried out on prepared on blunted back flakes. The finer of the assemblage showed pronounced preferen­ the two examples shows alternately struck ces for scrapers with lengths between 30 and notches. A third example is a thin prismatic 40 mm. Preferred breadth lay between 20-30 combining the functions of denticulate mm. A single double-ended comprised saw and hollow-ended scraper. a substantial keeled flake with retouch applied from opposed sides at each end. This is a Piercers (Fig. 2. 16-18) multi-purpose retouched also as a side Eight examples of piercers were recovered. scraper. Seven are unifacially worked and three have a hooked or beaked appearance produced by Side scrapers (Fig. 2.9) the convergence of concave and convex re­ These showed a preferred length ranging touched edges. One example is worked on the widely between 30 and 50 mm. The preferred opposite end of a steeped end scraper and may width ranged from 10-30 mm. The side have been intended as a tang for . Two scrapers are largely cortical, and two examples piercers have dual purpose prepared on show short lengths of unifacial retouch short end scrapers. Each has a single denticu­ applied from opposite sides of the tool. late spur produced by the convergence of two closely punched notches. Hollow scrapers (Fig. 2.10, 11) Six of the eight examples are worked on Awls (Fig. 2. 19) substantial (lakes and two are utilized cores. A single specimen of poor-quality flint The hollow scrapers have been distinguished shows retouch applied from opposed faces to from notched flakes by the width of the produce a small awl. retouched hollows which range from 11 to 22 mm (notched flakes have nominally been (Fig. 2.20) classified as those with hollows or notches less An end scraper from the site has a re­ than 10 mm wide). Two flakes have twin hol­ touched beak, apparently produced by two lows and one has a doubtful burin facet and uncertain burin facets. may have served as a graver. The hollows on the utilized cores show a steep retouch and it Steeped end scrapers (Fig. 2. 21) is possible that these two pieces were used for Seven examples were distinguished from the a purpose other than the spokeshave function end scrapers by their steep retouched edges. generally presumed for these scrapers. Multiple blind percussion fractures in the working edge of four of these tools suggest that they may have been used in the fabrica­ Notched flakes (Fig. 2. 12-15) tion process of applying retouch to other Ten flakes display single notches up to 10 implements. mm wide. In all examples the notch is accom­ panied by a retouching on an opposite or Fabricators (Fig. 2. 22-3) adjacent edge of the flake. Two examples were recovered showing mul­ Five flakes display two notches and in four tiple blind percussion fractures or bruising at others further retouch also occurs. One one or both ends of long heavy triangular- example is a bifacially worked multiple tool sectioned flakes. The single ended example is combining two notches, hollow scraper and also notched on one edge. side scraper. The side scraper edge shows a small area of gloss. Axes, adzes and fragments (Fig. 2. 4 and Two further flakes appear to be fine, end Fig. 3. 28) scrapers with opposed notches showing an There is an element of absurdity in attempt at strangulation. attempts to quantify flint axes (Tyler 1976, 2). 28 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Fig. 2. The flint assemblages. (Cores 1-3 and burin 20 are Mesolithic.) D. TOMALIN AND R. G. SCAIFE: NEOLITHIC FLINT ASSEMBLAGE AT GATCOMBE 29

J 10 cms Fig. 3. The flint assemblage.

Fragments of flaked axes can seldom be recog­ flush with its haft. A comparable and almost nised, and fragments of ground ones may pass complete example with semi-flattened side similarly unheeded unless portions of their comes from Ventnor (Poole 1930, 31, PI. 3). outer surface survive. At Gatcombe the scarce­ The excellent control sample of Neolithic axes ness of raw material appears to have led to an from Island held at Carisbrooke Castle almost miserly utilization of flint fragments, Museum suggests that there is a colour and and it is not surprising that axes are repre­ quality to certain flaked axes which is seldom sented by only two specimens. A complete if ever to be found among other implements example in poor-quality chalk patinated flint and waste. A single flake of this character from is 109 mm long and 39 mm at its maximum Gatcombe can perhaps be tentatively ascribed width (Fig. 3. 26). The form is -like, with to the utilization of another axe of this type. a flattened underside and equilateral triangu­ A small flake 20 mm long may also have been lar cross-section. Zig-zag edges have been detached from ground axe. produced by steep alternate flaking along its sides. The cutting edge shows light reworking Sickles (Fig. 2. 24) applied to a tranchet scar. A thin crescentric sickle 66 mm long bears A core from the site bears the gloss along its flat retouched edge. It is closely traces of a -ground axe with modestly comparable with a similarly glossed sickle flattened sides (Fig. 2. 4). A large hinge frac­ blade from Lea Farm, Sandown (Poole 1941, ture suggests that the axe had once sheared 276, PI. III). Gloss was also observed on alter- 30 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY nate faces of a broken double-edged tool of Phase 2 high-quality flint. Only the butt end of the The primary Elm decline is dated here at tool survived but its shape is compatible with 4850 ±50 bp where Ulmus pollen declines a broken sickle. from greater than 20% to less than 2%. Various suggestions as to the cause of this Push plane (Fig. 3.27) decline are given by several authors (Smith This implement weighs 1.00 kg and com­ 1970; Godwin 1956 and 1975; Ten Hove prises a truncated and trimmed cortical 1968). The selective polling of Ulmus for fod­ nodule of mediocre quality. The undersurface der as suggested by Troels-Smkh (1966) is felt bears finely striated gloss indicating the main to be of importance here because of the strong areas of wear and the direction of use. A large negative relation between Ulmus and herb recent fracture appears to have removed some pollen frequencies. It is suggested, therefore, further gloss. A bruised lobe, projecting 0.5 cm that Neolithic activity became evident at this below one edge of the planing surface and time, possibly utilizing elm leaves as fodder for deeply shaded in Fig. 3, does not seem to have cattle in a forested environment. obstructed use. Some of the large trimmed facets on the upper surface show inward coni­ cal punch marks denoting occasional use as a Phase 3 hammerstone or anvil. Small-scale, relatively local cereal cultiva­ Chert tion is shown from 4850 bp to the Middle A single struck flake of poor-quality chert Neolithic. Two interesting features may be was recovered. A pebble of chert with thermal noted. Firstly, the arable activity took place fractures was also recovered from the base of within an essentially open-canopy forested en­ the peat bog. vironment with little forest clearance. Second­ ly, the pollen representation of cereal type and THE PALYNOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ruderals shows a series of alternating peaks It is evident that the flint assemblages might and troughs thought to be evidence of ephe­ be related to phases of anthropogenic activity meral cultivation of crop patches adjacent to seen in .the pollen record. This is shown to be settlement. the case, with five distinct periods being recog­ nised; they may be summarised briefly: Phase 4 Phase 1 A distinctive phase of local forest clearance A period from 6385±50 bp (SRR - 1339) of Landnam type (described by Iversen et al. to 4850+45 bp (SRR - 1338), corresponding 194] and 1949) is evident in close proximity to with climax deciduous forest of Atlantic the core site. This proximity is evidenced by period (Godwin's Zone Vila). This was domi­ high herbaceous pollen percentages, local nated by Quercus, Tilia, 'Ulmus, Alnus and eutrophiation of the mire and the clear-cut Corylus with some Ilex, Fraxinus and climb­ evidence of a transient forest phase. A period ing shrubs present. There is little evidence of of clearance, occupation and cereal cultivation any Mesolithic settlement shown in the pollen took place in a restricted area of the adjacent record, although sparse representation of valley side. From the analysis of the flint Plantago lanceolata, Artemisia and woodland assemblage, given above, this period is herbs may be due to local glades created by thought to correspond with the bulk of the Mesolithic man. Some archaeological material archaeological material. A Late-Neolithic date which is referable to this period is substantial is inferred for 'this event by comparison with evidence for his presence. Although such analysis by R.G.S. at Borthwood, Isle of glades may have been formed naturally by Wight. This latter site has produced com­ death of individual trees and herbivore graz­ parable pollen data subsequent to a local ing, the creation of forest pathways seems Middle-Neolithic decline in Tilia dated at likely. 4010±1I0 bp. D. TOMALIN AND R. G. SCAIFE: NEOLITHIC FLINT ASSEMBLAGE AI GATCOMBF. 31

609L- eoS6_ SCRAPERS Length Breadth

20 30 40 50 60 70 80mm

50«-

- CORE TYPES Gatcombe 60%. TOOL TYPES Gatcombe

I I I—1—1- J4

Arreton

605Bu

i i i—t \ i—W abcdefgh 1a b c 2a b 3 4a b 5 6 7 8 9 10 11121314

INDICES OF HUMAN ACTIVITY

Elm YA Pollen Decline ^—4850*110 bp 1 Late Mesolithic I . 100« 100% Fig. 4. Frequencie£J-T—i s 1 of1 too1 1l typer— s for Gatcombe showing close comparability with Late-Neolithic assemblages from the West Kennet Avenue and Arreton Down. In 'Indices of Human Activity' the frequency of diagnostic implements for the Late- Mesolithic, Early/Middle- and Late-Neolithic respond to pollen evidence for human activity in the vicinity of the peat bog. Human activity in the pollen histogram is based on the sum of Gramineae, Plantago umceolala and Jiutnex expressed as a percentage of arboreal pollen excluding Almts. 32 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Phase 5 emanating from the Early/Middle-Neolithic Subsequent to these phases of transient agri­ flint scatter located by Mr. J. Dunn 1.3 km culture is a period of Late-Neolithic forest E.N.E. of Gatcombe West at site no. 3 (Fig. 1). regeneration with reversion to secondary C. Late Neolithic forest. It is likely that the flint assemblage dis­ 94.7% of the implements from the site can cussed here is largely representative of Phase be assigned to this period. This includes the 4, showing clearance of the immediate valley complete tranchet adze (Fig. 3. 28) which is side, occupation and surrounding arable culti­ well at home in a Late-Neolithic context like vation. Comparison of the flint assemblage those from Durrington Walls (Wainwright with that from Arreton Down suggests that and Longworth 1971, 177, F8) and from the Late-Neolithic activity, at least in this region old ground surface beneath the of the Isle of Wight, was from small commu­ on Arreton Down (Alexander and Ozanne nities creating local opening of the forest. 1960, F37-40). Subsequent to soil depletion, abandonment A comparison of the preferred length and and vegetational regeneration occurred. breadth sizes for end scrapers (Fig. 4) shows good concordance with the scraper sample from the Late-Neolithic occupation floor in DISCUSSION the Avebury stone avenue of West Kennet Excavations at Hurst Fen (Clarke 1960), (Wainwright and Longworth 1971, 167). Con­ Windmill Hill (Smith 1965), and Durrington firmation of the character of local Late- Walls (Wainwright and Longworth 1971) have Neolithic flintwork is also, fortunately, avail­ produced large and discrete assemblages to able 3.8 km east of Ga-tcombe beneath the assist our differentiation between Early/ round barrow on Arreton Down. Here a sub­ Middle and Late Neolithic flint industries. At stantial assemblage of 13,610 flints from the Durrington Walls a sample of 12,000 worked old ground surface was associated with Mort- flints has provided persuasive evidence that lake, Fengate and European Bell Beaker polished flint axes and leaf-shaped flint ­ sherds. A comparison of tool frequencies in heads are generally not to be found in Late Fig. 4 shows close agreement between the two Neolithic contexts. sites, although at Arreton a number of minor At Gatcombe the surface collection of flint additions have been brought to light by the may by analogy be divided into three phases. greater size of the sample. A. Mesolilhic Mesolithic activity is represented by six fine FLINT SAMPLING AND INDICES OF HUMAN microlithic blades including two with notches. ACTIVITY Other items are a strangulated flake and an At Gatcombe the degree of early human obliquely blunted point. Small cores worked activity is attested by the independent means all the way round and columnar bi-polar of pollen analysis and the analysis of a surface cores are notable, and could distort the Neo­ flint scatter. In Fig. 4 an attempt has been core histograms (Fig. 4). Both core types made to use the relative proportions of Meso­ occur in the Island river valley Mesolithic lithic, Early/Middle and Late-Neolithic imple­ sites at Newtown and Werrar (Poole 1936, 551, ments as an index of successive degrees of Pis. 1 & 4). human activity in the locality. In the left-hand histogram of Fig. 4 a B. Early /Middle Neolithic general index of human activity is illustrated The utilized polished axe fragment (Fig. 2. by the quantities of Plantago lanceolata, 4) offers tenuous evidence for Early- or Middle- Gramineae and Rumex pollen expressed as a Neolithic activity, although its later use can­ percentage of arboreal pollen excluding not be entirely precluded. Its use as an axe Alnns. In the implements histogram, the may perhaps accord with local activity single polished axe fragment provides the only D. TOMALIN AND R. G. SCAIFE: NEOLITHIC FUNT ASSEMBLAGE AT GATCOMBE 33 measure of Early/Middle-Neolithic activity REFERENCES and is an understatement of the midjthird Alexander, J and Ozanne, P C and A 1960 Report millennium elm decline and Middle-Neolithic of a Round Barrow on Arreton Down, landnam attested in the pollen record. The Isle of Wight, PPS 26, 263-302. Bohmers, A and Wouters, A 1956 Statistics and problem here is the apparent longevity of most graphs on the study of flint assemblages, kinds of implement and our lack of knowledge Palaeohistoria 5, 1-38. of exclusive Middle-Neolithic tool types. The Clarke, J G D 1960 Excavations at the Neolidiic core histogram fails to remedy this problem, Site at Hurst Fen, Mildenhall, Suffolk, but provides a simpler alternative for obtain­ PPS 26, 202-45. Godwin, H 1956 and 1975 The History of the ing similar information. If the phase 2 and 3 British Flora, Cambridge U.P. pollen horizons reflect the activities of the Iverson, J 1941 Land Occupation in Denmark's occupants of site 3, living 1.3 km distant and , Danm. Geol. Unders (II) 43 metres up the east side of the valley, then 66, 1-68. the implement diagram may provide an index , 1949 The Influence of Prehistoric Man on Vegetation, Danm. Geol. of local occupation as opposed to farming Unders (IV) 3, 6, 1-25. activities in the close vicinity of the bog. Poole, H F 1930 Stone Axes found in the Isle of The flint evidence may be summarised in Wight, Part II, Proc. I.W. Nat. Hist. and Archaeological Society 2, 27-38. the following terms: , 1936 An Outline of the Mesolithic 1. Minor evidence of Mesolithic activity. flint cultures in the Isle of Wight, Proc. 2. Some possible evidence for Early/Middle- I.W. Nat. Hist, and Archaeological Neolithic activity. Society 2, 551-81. 3. Substantial evidence of Late-Neolithic , 1941 Additional records of stone implements found in the Isle of Wight, activity. No. 2, Stone Axes, Proc. I.W. Nat. Hist. The rare combination of pollen evidence and Archaeological Society 3, 263-82. with the flint assemblage from the site pro­ Smith, A G 1961 The Atlantic-Sub- tran­ vides valuable and remarkable corroboration sition, Proc. Linn. Society 172, 38-49. for these events. This corroboration should be , 1970 The Influence of Mesolithic and Neolithic Man on British Vege­ borne in mind when assessing the value of tation: a discussion, Studies in the field-walk flint assemblages and the optimum Vegetalional History of the British sample size for flint analysis. Isles, Cambridge U.P. Smith, F 1965 Windmill Hill and Avebury. Exca­ vations by Alexander Keiller 1925- A cknowledgemen ts 1939, Oxford. The writers are indebted to Sir Robert Hobart Ten Hove, H A 1968 The Ulnus Fall at the for kind permission to examine the site and to Transition of Atlanticum-Sub-boreal the East Kilbride Radiocarbon Laboratory and in pollen diagrams, Palaeogeog, the N.G.R.C. for the dates provided for the pollen Palaeoclim, and Palaeocol. 5, 359-69. sequence. Kings College London have provided Troels-Smith, J 1966 Ivy, Mistletoe and Elm: research facilities for pollen analysis and the climate indicators - fodder plants, Trustees of Carisbrooke Castle Museum have Damn. Geol. Unders (IV) 4, 4, 1-32. provided the opportunities to study artefacts in Tyler, A 1976 Neolithic Flint Axes from the Cots- their care. We are particularly grateful to Mr. wold Hills, Brit. Archaeol. Reps. 25, J. Dunn of Blackwater for the details of sites 2-5 Oxford. which have been located by his systematic field- Wainwright, G J and Longworth, J 1971 Durring- work in the area. Mrs. J. Augustus and Mr. ton Walls: Excavations 1966-1968, Soc. N. L. T. Green have given invaluable help in Antiquaries Res. Rep. No. 29, London. dealing with the peat samples. The drawings are by Frank Basford. Authors: R. G. Scaife, Department of Geography, Kings College, University of London, Strand London, WC2R 2LS. David J. Tomalin, Carisbrooke Castle Museum, Newport, Isle of Wight.

© Hampshire Field Club if Archaeological Society.