Contents 'ditorial Palaeolithic archaeology Palaeoli~carchaeology 3 Earth Heritage is continuing to - a geolOgical overlap . evolve. And this is with thanks to those of you (about a third of our Conservation Canadian style a geological overlap readers) who took the time to - what price legislation? . ......................................... 6 complete our questionnaire last Andrew Lawson, Wessex Archaeology summer. Your responses were 'Volcanic Park' he discovery, in 1994, of very positive, with good ideas - a proposed RIGS igneous geology trail in North Wales 9 the way in which the first occupants of Stringer, 1993; Wymer, 1982). Since Britain's earliest human remains Britain lived or precisely when. But at about how we might improve the that event, the major climatic variations has focused attention on the Boxgrove, unlike many other locations, magazine still further. We have Popularizing a jewel in the crown ofScottish geology....................... 13 of the Middle and Late Pleistocene, potential of our Quaternary geological stone tools and associated animal bones with consequent cycles ofglaciation already started to introduce some deposits to preserve archaeological lie where they fell and have not been Landscape interpretation for the public in the United States and amelioration, have effected the of these, but the major changes evidence ofinternational importance. disturbed by subsequent glacial or - examples of good practice........................................................................ 14 degree ofoccupation of our land and will come with the next issue in The robust human tibia recovered at fluvial action. This type of site is the the preservation of the evidence of January. Boxgrove in West Sussex, during most valuable for placing people in the earlier visits. Evaluating interpretation at Hunstanton 20 controlled archaeological excavation, changing Pleistocene landscape ­ Ifwe are to understand better the You would like more articles has made a major contribution to the archaeological evidence remains in situ, relationship between early people and The Cairngorms debate on the spread of the first people linking geological and landscape closely related to palaeoenvironmental their environments, and the mechanism - geomorphological sensitivity and management of a fragile into Europe and northern latitudes indicators, and buried without by which archaeological evidence was conservation with other aspects of and dynamic mountain landscape (Roberts et al., 1994). 21 disturbance by sediments whose origin incorporated into the geological record, conservation and with Boxgrove, however, is only one of can be accurately deduced. the deposits which potentially hold environmental education. You Rocks, landforms and PPG9 thousands of sites in Britain where Correlation, with radiometric dates, appropriate sites must be distinguished would also like more information archaeological finds of this period have - implications of new planning policy guidance for geological conservation .... 24 between the fauna associated with from those oflesser value. With threats about sites to visit, particularly been made (Roe, 1968). Lower Lower Palaeolithic implements to Quaternary deposits from Palaeolithic artefacts are frequently RIGS (Regionally Important Scotland's first dinosaur 26 (especially certain species of small commercial working of mineral found in river gravels, having been GeologicaV geomorphological - the real one! : . mammals which are indicative of aggregates, from major road and rail washed from their original sites by Sites). To help achieve this, we environmental change) and other schemes, and from burial beneath floods and meltwaters. Interesting have agreed with The Wildlife Strengthening the RIGS lllovelllent European faunas is essential in urban expansion, the best sites will though their discovery may be, they are, Trusts to merge their magazine - the potential for local groups to guide the national direction of determining when Britain and Europe warrant protection, ifnecessary through however, unlikely to give us evidence of Exposure with Ea!"th Heritage from RIGS in England 28 were first occupied (Gamble & the use ofstatutory powers. next January. Book review 30 Finally, we have reviewed our subscription policy in light of Snippets 31 forthcoming changes in our editorial and production process. From Issue 5 Ganuary 1996) onwards, Earth Heritage will be available free, and all those on the Earth Heritage is a twice yearly journal produced for the geological and mailing lists for Earth Heritage and landscape conservation community by English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales. We would like to thank all Exposure will automatically those who have assisted with the preparation of the magazine. However, the receive a copy. opinions expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the above agencies. Contact addresses for the editorial board, to WhOlll offers of We look forward to your support articles frOlll readers should be appropriately directed, are as follows: in the future. Mike Harley, Managing Editor Managing Editor Mike Harley, English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PEl 1UA Telephone 01733318275 Editors Stewart Campbell, Countryside Council for Wales, Plas Penrhos, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ Telephone 01248 372333 Cover photo: The spectacular desert landfonns of the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Andy King, English Nature, Northminster House, Moon) in the Chilean Atacama Peterborough PE1 1UA Desert. The dry valleys and gullies Telephone 01733 318294 were created during periodic floods in the Quaternary, although the area now receives virtually no Rob Threadgould, Scottish Natural Heritage, precipitation. Bonnington Bond, 2 Anderson Place, Edinburgh EH6 SNP (Photo by Neil Glasser) The research is being led by Dr John Wymer (left) seen here at Dunbridge, Hampshire - a typical scene of gravel extraction _ with Telephone 0131 446 2453 Phil Harding (right), one of Wessex Archaeology's support team. (Photo by E A Wakefield) 2 • •3 Dr John Wymer, with Phil Harding records an academic advice being exposure at Dunbridge, given by Professor Clive Hampshire. Watching briefs References during extraction can supply Gamble of Southampton valuable new information, Gamble, C.S. & Stringer, C.B. University and the both on the archaeology and 1993. In search of the Neanderthals. periodic meetings of a geology of gravel sequences. Thames and Hudson. panel of experts. (Photo by E A Wakefield) Following an initial study Gamble, C.S. & Wymer, J,J. 1994. of southern England, the The protection ofLower the project, it is intended project is now well into its Palaeolithic sites in Southern stride. In total, it will to collate them into a Britain. In: O'HaIloran, D., Green, take six years to complete single publication in a C., Harley, M., Stanley, M. & Knill, and, by March 1997, a format suitable for wider J. (eds.). Geological and Landscape consistent national picture dissemination. Conservation. Geological Society, will have been created. .The study of Lower London, 443-445. o For the purposes of the Palaeolithic sites marks Owen-John, H. 1995. Geology and survey, England has been the congruence of archaeology in partnership. Earth divided into 12 regions archaeology and geology. Hen'tage, 3, 10-11. broadly based on the .'\, Although specialised drainage pattern of the studies may diverge, there Roberts, M.B., Stringer, C.B. & major rivers, the sizes of is a common aim in the Parfitt, S.A. 1994. A hominid tibia the regions also reflecting from Middle Pleistocene sediments better understanding of the density of known at Boxgrove, UK. Nature, 369, 311­ sites. The six regions the Quaternary. 3. south of the Severn Similarly, there are common goals in the Roe, D.A. 1968. A gazetteer ofthe 11 Estuary and the Thames British Lower and Middle were studied between conservation and 1990 and 1993. The protection of important Palaeolithic sites. Research Report of middle and lower Thames sites. The English Rivers the Councilfor British Archaeology, 8. (Region 7) and the Severn Palaeolithic Survey will Wymer,]. 1982. The Palaeolithic drainage (Region 10) provide the Cornerstone Age. Croom Helun. were studied in 1994/5, for selective the Great Ouse basin conservation (Region 9) and the North region is produced. Each contains a strategies, whether description of the geology and of the of England (Region 12) protection ;/best are currently (1995) being history of discovery, a gazetteer of all implemented through studied, leaving East sites within the region and, crucially, Anglia (Region 8) and the an interpretation and assessment of archaeological or Trent drainage (Region the resource. The main text is geological statutes. It 11) to be studied by backed with appendices on mineral also provides an 1997. extraction and information sources, incomparable database In each area, three as well as explanatory diagrams. A for the study of Lower principal studies are major component of each report is a Palaeolithic sites, either made. First, a database is separate atlas of maps charting the regionally or individually. created of all known extent of geological deposits and the The inclusion of in situ discoveries of Lower sites of archaeological discoveries. Lower Palaeolithic Palaeolithic artefacts ­ Although this approach may seem remains in Quaternary each entry recording fundamental, it has never been deposits is such a rare England is being studied in 12 regions based