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Thames Through Time. The Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames. Early Prehistory to 1500 BC. Part 1 The Ice Ages, Part 2 The Mesolithic to Early Bronze Age
Quaternary Science Reviews 30 (2011) 3217–3218
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Quaternary Science Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/quascirev
Book Review Thames Through Time. The Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames. Early Prehistory to 1500 BC. Part 1 The Ice Ages, Part 2 The Mesolithic to Early Bronze Age, Anthony Morigi, Danielle Schreve, Mark White, Gill Hey, Paul Garwood, Mark Robinson, Alistair Barclay, Philippa Bradley, in: Thames Valley Landscapes Monograph No. 32. Oxford Archaeology (2011). 521 pp., £34.99, hardback, ISBN: 978-0-9549627-8-4 This volume, funded via the now sadly defunct Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, comes as the third in a series produced as a collaborative effort between Oxford Archaeology and Surrey County Archaeology Unit that is designed to offer a synthesis and systematic review of the archaeology of the Thames valley and its tributaries. This extensive drainage basin, with a diverse geological composition and landscape character, featuring both uplands and lowlands, has attracted settlement from the earliest times in Southern England and also research into that activity that is of international relevance. Much new data has become available in recent times as a result of excavations in advance of gravel extraction. This series of volumes is intended to provide an outlet not merely to include the results from these excavations but also to reappraise the current state of knowledge and to consider the broader context of these results. The volume dealing with the story to 1500 BC is in two parts; part 1 covering the Ice Ages is dealt with in 150 pages, the second part describing the Holocene from the Mesolithic to the end of the Early Bronze Age receives 313 pages. Given the fact that the remainder of the series has been compartmentalised into more accessible chronological periods with separate volumes dealing with the period from 1500 BC to 1000 AD defined as later prehistoric and Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon occupation, with a forthcoming volume covering the period from 1000 AD, it is arguable that the volume dealing with the earliest activity should have been divided into two books. Given the differences between Pleistocene archaeology and later periods it is highly likely that researchers will be drawn to using either one part or the other, but not necessarily both parts of the volume; nevertheless, in mitigation of this approach, it does provide an opportunity to present an unbroken link between the post glacial archaeology with what has gone before. The volume is laid out with well written authoritative main chapters interspersed with inserts incorporating detailed descriptions of key sites, periods and themes. These inserts, illustrated with computer-generated reconstructions of Stone Age life that are not always anatomically convincing, are valuable introductions to those who may not be specialists. These sections are anchored for the early periods by chronological bar scales. A similar approach may have proved beneficial for the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages for those not familiar with the time scales of these periods.
doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.07.001
The Ice Ages are further amplified with an independent glossary at the back. Part 1, dealing with the Ice Ages and the early drainage of the river, is covered by seven chapters starting with a general introduction to the pre-Anglian archaeology and environment and thereafter successive interglacial and adjacent cold stages. The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic periods are less well represented in the Upper Thames than some of its contemporary sites in the Lower Thames valley. It is unsurprising therefore that the authors unashamedly include the Lower Thames in the story, providing a well written synthesis of the Thames valley, placing the sites in the Upper Thames in a wider national and European context. The section is accompanied by copious illustrations, most of which are well produced, although Fig 1.9 showing the terraces of the Thames is disappointing, using too many colours with no correlation between terraces and no contemporary location features to help place the map in context. Part 2, dealing with the Mesolithic onwards, takes the story beyond the point at which the evidence for human activity is contained within the geological deposits of the Thames valley to one where it is found on the surface of those deposits. Changes in landscape and its use become modified more by human populations than one controlled predominantly by climatic change. In addition although the focus of human activity is also maintained in the valley, the role of the surrounding landscape now forms a greater part of the story. This section of the volume has been more tightly defined within the Upper and Middle Thames and its tributaries. Figures dealing with site distributions, generally reflect this, and are shown within a consistent boundary. The subject matter is prefixed by two chapters of introduction placing what is to follow in its context. These describe the history of research, the nature of the evidence and the methods used to recover it, a review of material culture and a chronological overview of the environmental development. More detailed chapters then follow covering the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, ceremonial monuments, Bronze Age settlement and the developing changes in ritual and funerary activity through time. The Mesolithic period is especially well known in the Kennet valley, most notably around Thatcham, and contains excavations that remain classic studies of the period. However the volume makes it possible to include work in the Thames valley that has provided a wealth of new material and extended knowledge of the activities of hunter gatherer groups beyond its previous study area. The Thames valley contains a wealth of evidence relating to Neolithic and Bronze Age activity although this is still best represented by funerary sites and ritual monuments. The volume provides a comprehensive review of these monuments in the light of current thought. Evidence of settlement remains elusive with domestic activity largely reconstructed by material from pits,
3218
Book Review / Quaternary Science Reviews 30 (2011) 3217–3218
isolated post-holes and artefact scatters. However as the book progresses it is possible to identify Early Bronze Age sites with well defined buildings and field systems which mark a landscape that is more easily recognisable with the one of the present day. The section concludes with a chapter on materials and artefacts which reflect the material culture of human activity. Overall this part of the volume is as well illustrated as the earlier section, although some of the object photos could have been improved if scales had been provided. The volume concludes with a comprehensive bibliography, which will serve to provide introductory sources for those in need of more detailed references for additional study.
There is a wealth of data included in this volume. It achieves its aim in providing both a useful synthesis of early human activity within the Thames valley and also a useful reference book for both specialists and those with only a general interest in the subject. In association with the remaining volumes in the set it will provide an invaluable corpus of material for the future. Phil Harding Wessex Archaeology, Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury SP4 6EB, United Kingdom E-mail address: [email protected]. Available online 23 July 2011
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Quaternary Science Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/quascirev
Book Review Thames Through Time. The Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames. Early Prehistory to 1500 BC. Part 1 The Ice Ages, Part 2 The Mesolithic to Early Bronze Age, Anthony Morigi, Danielle Schreve, Mark White, Gill Hey, Paul Garwood, Mark Robinson, Alistair Barclay, Philippa Bradley, in: Thames Valley Landscapes Monograph No. 32. Oxford Archaeology (2011). 521 pp., £34.99, hardback, ISBN: 978-0-9549627-8-4 This volume, funded via the now sadly defunct Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, comes as the third in a series produced as a collaborative effort between Oxford Archaeology and Surrey County Archaeology Unit that is designed to offer a synthesis and systematic review of the archaeology of the Thames valley and its tributaries. This extensive drainage basin, with a diverse geological composition and landscape character, featuring both uplands and lowlands, has attracted settlement from the earliest times in Southern England and also research into that activity that is of international relevance. Much new data has become available in recent times as a result of excavations in advance of gravel extraction. This series of volumes is intended to provide an outlet not merely to include the results from these excavations but also to reappraise the current state of knowledge and to consider the broader context of these results. The volume dealing with the story to 1500 BC is in two parts; part 1 covering the Ice Ages is dealt with in 150 pages, the second part describing the Holocene from the Mesolithic to the end of the Early Bronze Age receives 313 pages. Given the fact that the remainder of the series has been compartmentalised into more accessible chronological periods with separate volumes dealing with the period from 1500 BC to 1000 AD defined as later prehistoric and Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon occupation, with a forthcoming volume covering the period from 1000 AD, it is arguable that the volume dealing with the earliest activity should have been divided into two books. Given the differences between Pleistocene archaeology and later periods it is highly likely that researchers will be drawn to using either one part or the other, but not necessarily both parts of the volume; nevertheless, in mitigation of this approach, it does provide an opportunity to present an unbroken link between the post glacial archaeology with what has gone before. The volume is laid out with well written authoritative main chapters interspersed with inserts incorporating detailed descriptions of key sites, periods and themes. These inserts, illustrated with computer-generated reconstructions of Stone Age life that are not always anatomically convincing, are valuable introductions to those who may not be specialists. These sections are anchored for the early periods by chronological bar scales. A similar approach may have proved beneficial for the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages for those not familiar with the time scales of these periods.
doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.07.001
The Ice Ages are further amplified with an independent glossary at the back. Part 1, dealing with the Ice Ages and the early drainage of the river, is covered by seven chapters starting with a general introduction to the pre-Anglian archaeology and environment and thereafter successive interglacial and adjacent cold stages. The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic periods are less well represented in the Upper Thames than some of its contemporary sites in the Lower Thames valley. It is unsurprising therefore that the authors unashamedly include the Lower Thames in the story, providing a well written synthesis of the Thames valley, placing the sites in the Upper Thames in a wider national and European context. The section is accompanied by copious illustrations, most of which are well produced, although Fig 1.9 showing the terraces of the Thames is disappointing, using too many colours with no correlation between terraces and no contemporary location features to help place the map in context. Part 2, dealing with the Mesolithic onwards, takes the story beyond the point at which the evidence for human activity is contained within the geological deposits of the Thames valley to one where it is found on the surface of those deposits. Changes in landscape and its use become modified more by human populations than one controlled predominantly by climatic change. In addition although the focus of human activity is also maintained in the valley, the role of the surrounding landscape now forms a greater part of the story. This section of the volume has been more tightly defined within the Upper and Middle Thames and its tributaries. Figures dealing with site distributions, generally reflect this, and are shown within a consistent boundary. The subject matter is prefixed by two chapters of introduction placing what is to follow in its context. These describe the history of research, the nature of the evidence and the methods used to recover it, a review of material culture and a chronological overview of the environmental development. More detailed chapters then follow covering the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, ceremonial monuments, Bronze Age settlement and the developing changes in ritual and funerary activity through time. The Mesolithic period is especially well known in the Kennet valley, most notably around Thatcham, and contains excavations that remain classic studies of the period. However the volume makes it possible to include work in the Thames valley that has provided a wealth of new material and extended knowledge of the activities of hunter gatherer groups beyond its previous study area. The Thames valley contains a wealth of evidence relating to Neolithic and Bronze Age activity although this is still best represented by funerary sites and ritual monuments. The volume provides a comprehensive review of these monuments in the light of current thought. Evidence of settlement remains elusive with domestic activity largely reconstructed by material from pits,
3218
Book Review / Quaternary Science Reviews 30 (2011) 3217–3218
isolated post-holes and artefact scatters. However as the book progresses it is possible to identify Early Bronze Age sites with well defined buildings and field systems which mark a landscape that is more easily recognisable with the one of the present day. The section concludes with a chapter on materials and artefacts which reflect the material culture of human activity. Overall this part of the volume is as well illustrated as the earlier section, although some of the object photos could have been improved if scales had been provided. The volume concludes with a comprehensive bibliography, which will serve to provide introductory sources for those in need of more detailed references for additional study.
There is a wealth of data included in this volume. It achieves its aim in providing both a useful synthesis of early human activity within the Thames valley and also a useful reference book for both specialists and those with only a general interest in the subject. In association with the remaining volumes in the set it will provide an invaluable corpus of material for the future. Phil Harding Wessex Archaeology, Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury SP4 6EB, United Kingdom E-mail address: [email protected]. Available online 23 July 2011