Antiquity 77 (295)

The excavation has revealed evidence for what is one of the best-preserved Mesolithic structures found in the British Isles. Twenty one radiocarbon dates have been obtained from deposits within the structure producing a calibrated date for construction of c.7800 (cal.). The structure has filled up with successive lenses of debris representing what appears to be long-lived occupation. A discrete assemblage of over 16,000 lithics has been recovered from within the structure belonging to a narrow blade-based industry. In particular there are large quantities of microliths, including many scalene triangles and backed blades, together with scrapers, awls, cores and flakes. This flintwork is particularly noteworthy as it is a stratigraphically discrete assemblage and contains no intrusive material that may otherwise distort analysis.

Genetic studies of modern populations raise questions about how far the modern gene pool is owed to incoming populations during the agricultural revolution. The authors show that studies of isotopic data from cemeteries reveal a picture of increasing subtlety at local level. While early farmers may have been initially newcomers, they may soon have inter-married with contemporary hunter-gatherers.

Reports on a programme of internal quality control and overall quality assurance. In a laboratory `inter-comparison' samples of the same age are dated at different laboratories using a range of techniques and the results are then compared. The authors summarise the results of the fourth of these audits.

A discussion of the future of Roman archaeological research resulting from the seminar `Whither Roman archaeology?'.