Late persistence of the Acheulian in southern Britain in an MIS 8 interstadial: evidence from Harnham, Wiltshire

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • M. R. Bates
  • F. F. Wenban-Smith
  • S. M. Bello
  • D. R. Bridgland
  • L. T. Buck
  • Collins, Matthew James
  • D. H. Keen
  • J. Leary
  • S. A. Parfitt
  • K. Penkman
  • E. Rhodes
  • C. Ryssaert
  • J. E. Whittaker

This paper presents evidence of the discovery of a new Middle Pleistocene site in central southern England, with undisturbed evidence of hominin occupation well-dated to an interstadial towards the end of Marine Isotope Stage 8, c. 250,000BP. The site consists of a preserved remnant of a river terrace and its alluvial floodplain overlain by chalk-rich bankside deposits, all abutting a Chalk bedrock riverbank. It preserves an area of occupation with activity focused on the riverbank, complemented by occasional activity on a palaeo-landsurface developed on the surface of the alluvial floodplain. Lithic technology at the site consists almost entirely of handaxe manufacture, allowing attribution to an Acheulian industrial tradition. Mammalian and other palaeo-environmental remains are present and associated with the occupation horizons, including large mammal bones showing signs of hominin interference. Dating was based on OSL determinations on the sediments and amino acid racemisation of molluscan remains, supported by biostratigraphic indications. Besides being a rare instance of an undisturbed Palaeolithic palaeo-landscape covering several hectares, the site contributes to wider Quaternary research concerns over the ability of Middle Pleistocene hominins to tolerate colder climatic episodes in higher latitudes, and over settlement history and changing lithic industrial traditions of northwest Europe in relation to climate change and British peninsularity. It is suggested that the Harnham evidence may represent an insular population that had persisted in southern Britain since MIS 10/9, which became locally extinct during the glacial maximum 8.2 marking the end of MIS 8.

Original languageEnglish
JournalQuaternary Science Reviews
Volume101
Pages (from-to)159-176
Number of pages18
ISSN0277-3791
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Acheulian, Handaxes, Middle Pleistocene environment, MIS 8, Molluscs, Northwest European Lower/Middle Palaeolithic, Ostracods, Undisturbed occupation, Vertebrates

ID: 227737296