| Abstract: |
Papers from a conference in November 1978, with papers devoted to each of the main chronological periods, some economic and environmental reviews, and a multi-period account of one specific area. B Cunliffe (1-3) surveys a century of archaeological studies in the county, the last two decades providing revolutionary changes in understanding. M Shackley (4-9) takes the Palaeolithic, noting the county's relative richness in early artefacts (especially Acheulian) due to its closeness to the Continent. MAT and Late Upper Palaeo material at Great Pan Farm and Hengistbury respectively. For the Mesolithic, R Jacobi (10-25) reports new 14C dates for Oakhanger, offers a seriation for 'Horsham type' sites in the W Weald, and estimates the relative intensity of human settlement, noting a fall-off just before 6000 bc. Meso sunken features-and chert exchange are examined; erosion and inundation may explain the lack of evidence for coastal exploitation. P J Fasham and R T Schadla-Hall (26-36) note the restricted range of Neo monuments, but a considerable scatter of Neo material needing more research; the barrows probably indicate settlement areas, and a mixed economy and a controlled landscape are likely. For the Iron Age, T and S Champion (37-45) examine the general themes of subsistence, population, settlement; note a shortage of sites for the period 1000-600 BC, although the period 600 BC-AD 200 is fairly well covered; and call for a research design to fit the available material into a coherent framework. D E Johnston (46-55) surveys the progress of Romanization over the county, summarizes recent research, and identifies future research needs (Conquest period, rural impact, late Roman continuity). D A Hinton's survey of the AS origins (56-65) also looks at continuity, especially of boundaries, and at the nature of the early AS presence, concluding that the county was created from many diverse elements by mid-8th century. Moving on to medeval times, M Hughes (66-77) considers the development of settlement as reflected in market towns, moated sites, mottes and ringworks, and smaller rural settlements. For the post-medieval period K J Barton (78-90) notices the development of the ports and harbours, especially Portsmouth, the production of pottery, and the coming of the railways; a site gazetteer is appended. Four papers of general reference complete the volume: K E Barber (91-4) indicates the problems and potential of pollen-analytical palaeoecology in a county where settlement is mainly on the chalk and the pollen evidence comes from artefact-poor heaths and bogs. J Coy (95-103) shows how computerized bone-recording is assisting the study of animal husbandry and exploitation, and gives a species-based account. Early agriculture is J M Renfrew's subject (104-5, Iron Age to medieval studies summarized). S J Shennan (106-21) describes a sampling design for fieldwalking a 150km2 area on the edge of the chalk and the Weald, and interprets the large number of sites so revealed from Meso to medieval time. |
