Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/B/S/2003/00779
Palaeoenvironmental and archaeological investigations of Middle Holocene deposits following the discovery of Shetland's first Mesolithic site.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor AM Pollard, University of Bradford, Sch of Archaeological Geog and Env Sci
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr RE Donahue, Michigan State University, Anthropology
- Co-Investigator:
- Mr SJ Dockrill, University of Bradford, Faculty of Life Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Bradford, Sch of Archaeological Geog and Env Sci
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Science Topics:
- Science-Based Archaeology
- Palaeoenvironments
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- This pilot project will focus on the study of two shell middens recently discovered in a rapidly eroding cliff section at West Voe, Dunrossness, Shetland. Preliminary radiocarbon dating evidence from the lower midden indicates that it was formed during the Late Mesolithic (6270-5980 cal BP [95.4%]). A preliminary survey of the midden in section indicated that while composed predominantly of oyster shells, this midden contains bones from a range of marine mammals and sea birds. The date for this midden provides the first evidence for Mesolithic human activity in the Northern Isles of Scotland. An overlying cockle midden (5690-5460 cal BP [95.4%]) represents a very early Neolithic presence. It is here proposed to investigate and further date these midden deposits, together with the layers of sand which separate and overlie the middens, in order to discover the nature and extent of the Mesolithic deposits. It is also proposed to examine these and adjacent deposits to look for evidence of major early and middle Holocene events recorded elsewhere in north-east Scotland and Shetland in order to investigate the possibility of loss of early archaeological evidence and also the likelihood of site abandonment due to catastrophic or climatic events, or human-initiated environmental change. Involving scientists from the Universities of Bradford, Oxford and Newcastle, the project will make a significant contribution to the understanding of human movement during the middle Holocene in Britain and around the North-east Atlantic and North Sea basin, as well as potentially refining regional models of environmental change.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/B/S/2003/00779
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Small Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Small Grants
This grant award has a total value of £27,523
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £8,543 | £3,721 | £11,329 | £3,930 |
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