Saville, A. (2004). Mesolithic Scotland and its Neighbours. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Places the Mesolithic occupation of Scotland in the context of Late Glacial and Early Holocene environmental change.

Aspects of the palaeoecology and related palaeoenvironmental elements of the Mesolithic period in Scotland are placed in the context of Lateglacial antecedents, even though a local Palaeolithic occupation is unproven.

Some of the consequences of variations in the proportion of radiocarbon to ordinary carbon in the atmosphere are discussed. The possibility of a sporadic human presence in Scotland before the Holocene is explored. Population estimates and coastality are assessed for various millennia, and the chronologies of environmental change and human activities are summarized.

The fundamental elements of material culture - essentially stone, bone and antler tools - surviving from the Mesolithic period in Scotland are described and discussed in terms of significance and chronology.

Considers the evidence for upstanding structures.

Divided into two parts, chaired by Nick Barton and Paul Mellars respectively.

Overview of the topic, noting that it presents similar problems to the subject in Scotland.

Provides a review of recently published research on the Mesolithic period in England. Re-examines the radiocarbon record for the Early and Later Mesolithic, and uses new isotopic studies on human bones to compare dietary behavioural patterns in the two phases. Argues that in the Early Mesolithic people practiced high logistical mobility, possibly accompanied by low residential mobility, contrasted with the Later Mesolithic when people may have made more frequent residential moves and hand high logistical mobility, but occupied smaller home territories.

Notes that no burials have been found in Scotland, and suggests possible reasons. PP-B