Howick Project
Archaeological Research Services Ltd, 2012. https://doi.org/10.5284/1017454. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Archaeological Research Services Ltd unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1146
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1017454
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
The Howick site is located on the Northumberland coast at NU 2585 1657, 8km to the north-east of Alnwick between Longhoughton and Craster. The site consists of a Mesolithic occupation structure and a Bronze Age cist cemetery on a cliff top overlooking the small freshwater Howick Burn which discharges into the North Sea. The site came to the attention of archaeologists when flints were discovered eroding from the cliff edge and were identified as Mesolithic in date. After a preliminary test pit on the site indicated surviving subsoil Mesolithic archaeology, a full-scale project was mounted with the following over-arching aims:
- To record in full, the archaeological remains on the site before they were destroyed through further erosion.
- To identify more fully the extent of the archaeological resource at the site and its condition of preservation.
- To place the site in its wider landscape setting by investigating land-use across the surrounding spur of land and by gaining a more informed understanding of the past environment at the site and its linkages with the archaeological record. This was considered particularly relevant given that coastal erosion and sea-level change have affected the North-East coast since the early Holocene and this would have meant that the Howick site occupied a different setting then than it does today.
- To improve archaeological understanding of the Mesolithic in the region, particularly in a coastal setting, and to embark on developing a chronology for the period in the region.
Whilst the main focus of the two seasons of excavation (2000 and 2002) remained the Mesolithic archaeology, a Bronze Age cist cemetery was also discovered on the site, and fully recorded and excavated.
The Dataset
The information within this dataset represents all the digital files from the Howick Project. This includes the raw data from the onsite survey, digital copies of the on-site photography, the draft and completed illustrations and plans, and digital copies of all site registers and specialist reports.
Coverage
The Howick site is situated near the village of Howick, 8km to the north-east of Alnwick on the Northumberland Coast. All images on the dataset are of the site at NU 2585 1657.
Creators
The information within the dataset was compiled by James Brightman of Archaeological Research Services Ltd.
The work which has resulted in the compilation of this dataset was funded by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund along with contributions by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Publication
Information within this dataset has been used in the publication of a monograph on the Mesolithic features of the Howick site (Waddington forthcoming) published by Oxbow Books, and a journal paper (Waddington forthcoming) detailing the Bronze Age features of the site.
Identifiers
The Howick Project's unique project codes are HEX00 and HEX02 which refer to the data from the excavation seasons in the year 2000 and 2002 respectively.
Dates
The project was conducted over two summer field seasons in the years 2000 and 2002. All data was collected at these times and was computerised during the time ranging from the close of fieldwork until the present compiling of both the physical and digital archives. The digital archive has been brought together in November/December 2004.
Resource Type
This dataset is comprised of primary survey data collected on site and digitised photographs taken on site, along with prepared plans and illustrations and also edited specialist reports representing interpreted data. Format
