Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition

1. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition Liz Herbert

2. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition; Aims • The aim of the session is • To provide you with an overview of current perspectives on the Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition in Britain.

3. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition • Introduction • Theoretical perspectives • The Problems • Neolithic Package • Models for Change • Transition • Conclusion

4. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition • The debate: Population Replacement versus Indigenous adoption • Relative importance of • Social, economic& environmental factors • Time-scales involved • Degree of regional Variations in process of change

5. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition: Theoretical perspectives • Culture-historical model (Piggott 1954) • Neolithic marked by intrusive agrarian population arranged in various regional and cultural groups. • Fieldwork concentrated on Southern parts of Britain • Bias created by contemporary perceptions and assumptions as much as about apparent archaeological richness of the south. • Advances • Radiocarbon dating, • Aerial photography extended distributions

6. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition: Theoretical perspectives • Processual archaeology 1960’s-1980’s. • Concern with culture decreased • Research into individual monuments & artefact types remained plentiful. • A focus on a combination of expansive economy, growing populations and changing social structure dominated research. • Concerns about subsistence lead to better recovery of bone and plant remains. • Earlier ideas of shifting agriculture & shifting settlement generally disregarded

7. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition: Theoretical perspectives • Post-processual from early 1980’ • Questioned the sedentary nature of Neolithic peoples • Dominant role of agriculture challenged • Meanings of monuments & associated practices emphasised. • Material culture seen as an active agent in promoting individual & secular interest rather than solely as a reflector of group affiliation. • Conceptual and symbolic importance of domestication emphasised • Interest in agency & independence of Neolithic populations viewed social actors encouraging new consensus of continuity from Mesolithic to Neolithic replacing colonisation model, but allowed for social change to be variable TaversoeTuick

8. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition: Theoretical perspectives • Since 1980 more work in the North, monuments and monument complexes in Eastern Scotland, Orkney & the Western isles. • Different approaches • Evolutionary assumption cultural & other change leads to social complexity & differentiation • Social dynamic driving change • Competition for power or social pre-eminence. • More engendered archaeology: shared values/ideals Midhowe chambered cairn Callanish standing stones

9. The Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition • The Problems • Limited direct evidence • Existing evidence available can support variety of interpretations • New evidence is not conclusive, contradictory & points in a number of directions

10. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition • Neolithic Package • Domesticated plants • Domesticated animals • Polished stone tools • Pottery • Monumental Architecture

11. The Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition • Models for Change • One favoured model: proposes motivation as economic, demographic or both leading to recasting of lifestyles to alleviate pressure on resources • Another model: Social competition as the spur to change (Ertebølle comparison) • Another: A change in character in the Neolithic making it suitable as a means through which personal and social identities could be constructed and maintained.

12. The Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition • Rapid Transition • Simultaneous with Ireland & Southern Scandinavia • Similarities in Material culture over wide geographic areas • Apparent contrast with growing evidence for economic diversity • Colonisation versus adoption?

13. Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition • Was Britain Isolated? • Awareness of Neolithic material Culture (Mesolithic)? • Movement of small groups European agriculturists? • Colossal movement of population from continent? • Adoption by indigenous populations common consensus Became Neolithic from 4000-4200BCE

14. The Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition: Conclusion • Mesolithic-Neolithic transition is complex • Caution over generalisations based on evidence from single sites, single data sets or small samples • Transition from mobile Mesolithic-mobile Neolithic • Continuity & Change • Neolithic material culture spread throughout the British Isles

15. Bibliography • Anderson, E. (1993) Fishing for answers in E. SheeTwohig & M, Ronayne (eds.), Past perceptions 16-24) • Bradley, R. (1993) Altering the Earth: the origins of monuments in Britain and Continental Europe, Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Monograph Series 8. • Hodder, I. R. (1982) Symbols in Action, Cambridge: CUP • Thomas J. (2005) Current debates on Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in Britain & Ireland in DocumentaPraehistoria XXX1 • Tilley, C. (1994) A phenomenology of landscape: places, paths & monuments, Oxford: Berg • Whittle, A. (2008) ‘The Neolithic Period c. 4000-2500/2200 BC’, In Hunter, J. & Ralston, I. (eds.) The Archaeology of Britain: An Introduction from the Upper palaeolithic to the Industrial Revolution, London: Routledge • Zvelebil, M. (1994)’Plant use in the Mesolithic & its role in the transition to farming, Proccedings of the Prehistoric Society 60, 35-74

16. OVER TO YOU • Any Questions?