The biostratigraphy and dating of the tufa deposit at the Mesolithic site at Blashenwell, Dorset, England
In: Journal of Archaeological Science. Elsevier: London. ISSN 0305-4403; e-ISSN 1095-9238, more
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British Isles, England, Dorset
Measurement > Geochronometry > Radiometric dating > Radiocarbon dating
Mollusca [WoRMS]
Dorset [Marine Regions]
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| Abstract |
The deposit of tufa at Blashenwell Farm near Corfe, Dorset, is the largest known from southern England and was the site of a mesolithic settlement. The large pit containing midden material, that was visited by all previous workers, has now been filled. The present excavation was made at the eastern extremity of this pit, about 100 m to the east of the midden. close serial sampling and quantitative analyses of the non-marine Mollusca revealed the following environmental sequence: (1) an early marshy-ground phase; (2) the development of a shaded environment; (3) a partial opening up of the vegetation cover which is tentatively ascribed to human disturbance. Two radiocarbon dates of 5750±140 bp and 5425±150 bp were obtained from bones (ex Dorset County Museum). Mollusca from the tufa filling cavities in these bones established that they came from the upper levels of the tufa. The molluscan sequence is compared with others from southern Britain and it is suggested that the tufa deposition at the present site began shortly before 9000 bp and continued until sometime after about 5000 bp. An “Early Bronze Age” grave cut into the tufa implies that deposition had ceased by this time. |
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