Bridgland, D. R. (2001). The Pleistocene evolution and Palaeolithic occupation of the Solent River. In: n.e. Palaeolithic archaeology of the Solent River:. 38--56 Orsman Road: Lithic Studies Society. pp. 15-25.

Title:

The Pleistocene evolution and Palaeolithic occupation of the Solent River

Issue:

Palaeolithic archaeology of the Solent River:

Series:

Lithic Studies Society Occasional Papers

Volume:

Page Start/End:

15 - 25

Biblio Note

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Publication Type:

MonographSeriesChapter

Abstract:

the author describes the Solent system of Middle Pleistocene river terraces which now form the hinterland to the south coast, many of which contain Lower Palaeolithic artefacts, although these are absent from the older terraces pre-dating human occupation, and from the lowest terraces and valley-floor gravels contemporaneous with the disappearance of humans from Britain prior to the last interglacial. Only the last two interglacials are directly represented within the sedimentological sequences of the Solent and its tributaries, and the author proposes the use of other evidence to assess the ages of the higher terraces, including age indications provided by Palaeolithic archaeology. The paper explains that the first appearance of artefacts is thought likely to be around 600,000 years ago; then twisted ovates are prevalent in assemblages from OIS 11, suggesting that the Old Milton Gravel incorporates material of that age; and finally Levallois technique appears in the Taddiford Farm Gravel, thought by analogy with the Thames to date from around the OIS 9/8 transition. The Solent has more Middle Pleistocene terraces than other UK rivers, perhaps because rejuvenation has taken place twice during each climatic cycle. The author argues that the age indications from the archaeological data enable some attempt at modelling the formation of the terraces in response to both climate change and background uplift, although the results remain speculative

Author:

David R Bridgland

Year of Publication:

2001

Subjects / Periods:

Pleistocene (Auto Detected Temporal)
PALAEOLITHIC (Historic England Periods)
LOWER PALAEOLITHIC (Historic England Periods)
Middle Pleistocene (Auto Detected Temporal)
Artefacts (Auto Detected Subject)

Source:

BIAB (The British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography (BIAB))

Created Date:

28 Jun 2006