Lithics 32

Lithic artefacts have been collected from the site of Rainbow Bar on the Hampshire coast for sixty years, and several published papers describe most of the material as Clactonian or Mesolithic, based partially on typology and partially on condition. However, a full analysis had never been carried out. In the present study, aspects of the typology, technology and condition of 1304 items from the available collection were recorded and subjected to a statistical analysis. This showed that the collection included items from most prehistoric periods but that they could not be dated, even relatively, on condition alone. A brief examination of the geology of the area suggests that there is no primary site at Rainbow Bar and that the lithics are likely to have been deposited there by the Southampton/Solent hydrological system.

Luce Sands, Wigtownshire, has long been known for producing large quantities of flint artefacts, comprising a wide range of items from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods and the Bronze Age. As part of PhD research into this material, experimental work was carried out on local beach pebble flint. This work demonstrated that much of the archaeological material could have derived from local sources. However, in order to be able to reproduce the fine knapping of some of the artefacts, it was necessary to first heat-treat the flint.

Since the early 1990s, the occurrence of Lower and Middle Palaeolithic artefacts as surface finds from superficial deposits capping the chalk of the North Downs has become increasingly widely recognised. These finds are frequently associated with sub-surface chalk solution processes forming capture points for Pleistocene sediments. This paper presents a new find from the Alkham Valley, of likely late Middle Palaeolithic date. The exceptional condition of this handaxe suggests that it is likely to have come from a minimally disturbed, sub-surface capture point, although field evaluation would be necessary to determine its precise original context.

An international symposium in January 2011 highlighted the past achievements, current strengths and aims for the future of the Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins at the University of Southampton. A brief review is given of the symposium and the research presented. The first main session focused on bio-anthropological approaches to the Palaeolithic. The largest session covered lithic analyses, whilst another highlight was a session dedicated to a major fieldwork project launched the previous summer, aiming to research the deepest history of the island of Jersey. The second day featured sessions on palaeoclimate and human ecology, and social approaches to the study of the Palaeolithic. LD