Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 54

Presents a three-dimensional study of the vegetational history of the site from Devensian Late-glacial to Atlantic period. One of the sites produced evidence of local, ?anthropogenic disturbance at the wetland margin. A Late Meso organic mud with 14C date of c 8000 BP contained an assemblage of microliths tentatively interpreted as a composite tool or weapon.

Argues that the expansion of the Neo at the end of 4th millennium bc resulted from both a significant change in the structure of agricultural social relations and the willingness of indigenous populations to adopt innovations. Looking from the Meso viewpoint, a more intensive economic regime could be adopted through a desire for new ways to express prestige; the rise of the Danish Neo cannot all hinge on the oyster's demise. From the Neo point of view, the fragmentation of the Bandkeramik culture, after a milennium of homogeneity, into regional groups required the formation of new relationships at a different level. Monuments like long barrows spread widely because they actively structured society by marking points in the landscape and relationships with the ancestors. The 'Neo package' was thus essentially a set of structured information (practical and magical) needed for survival, and hence its ready introduction into Scandinavia and Britain.

Excavation of one of a number of elongated enclosures produced flints and pottery helping to substantiate the hypothesis that these are Neo long barrows or mortuary enclosures. Meso and Neo flintwork was obtained by surface collection from the field containing the Rivenhall enclosure. The Essex sites are briefly considered in their wider context. Au (abr)

Both sites produced evidence for the change from timber to mainly stone as a building material, commonplace in upland Britain at this time. Moely Gerddi showed some Neo activity, but its main occupation was in mid-lst millennium BC with a timber palisade and round house. As these structures deteriorated they were embanked with stone but abandoned not long after. Erw-wen, a short distance away, was similar but had no Neo phase and was reoccupied in the med period. Its main occupation may have lasted two-three centuries. Both sites were aceramic and probably relied on pastoral rather than arable farming. Dating, even with a number of 14C samples, is not very precise. The use of timber in such sites is shown to be more commonplace than previously supposed (see also 89/1270). Au(abr)

The site, which is about 1km from the Street House Neo cairn (85/1577), was first ploughed with an ard, then a squarish palisade was erected with corner gaps, clay bank, and a central setting of two timbers. The timbers were later withdrawn and the trenches backfilled and covered with rubble (including cupmarked stones). There had been two cremations and Grooved Ware and Beaker material including a jet button. A 14C date for the palisade was obtained (c 2200 cal BC) and those for the other Street House site have been revised backwards. Possible parallels are discussed.

A double-ditched sub-rectangular enclosure 42m x 48 had a single central round house and a rectangular structure in one corner; it produced a typical range of LBA artefacts. Environmental data from the waterlogged fill of a well indicate an open landscape of damp grassland, suggesting (in combination with a lack of first-stage crop-cleaning waste) a primarily pastoral economy. A few Neo features and artefacts were also found. Au (abr)

Examination of a distinct group of flints revealed specific information about the stages of tranchet axe manufacture and prompted a comparative study using British Museum material . The benefits of looking at the waste products of manufacturing processes were also demonstrated. Handedness could not be substantiated from the direction of removal of the sharpening flake.

On the dangers of seriation from artefacts in graves without taking into account the way in which symbolic associations of particular objects can change as their frequency changes. Where there is independent evidence of sequence (as with terra sigillata) there is more chance of detecting changes in social significance.