The Archaeology of Britain: An introduction from ... - waughfamily.ca

• 50 • Steven Mithen
Attempts have been made to organize assemblages from throughout Britain into classes relating
to past functions. Mellars (1976) published an important interpretation of assemblage variability
with regard to settlement patterns. He compiled data on the frequencies of different tool types
within assemblages to show that sites fell into three classes: class A sites have assemblages
dominated (>80 per cent) by microliths; in class B sites, microliths constitute 30–60 per cent; and
class C sites are dominated by scrapers. Class B is by far the most common, being found in
upland, lowland and coastal areas; Mellars interpreted these as winter base camps at which several
groups of people aggregated. The class A microlith-dominated assemblages, found principally in
the uplands of the Pennines and North York Moors, are considered as summer hunting camps.
Only three scraper-dominated assemblages were found; the processing of animal hides is assumed
to be the major activity indicated.
Barton (1992) recognized a correlation between artefact frequencies, topographic locations
and the underlying geology in Early Mesolithic assemblages from central southern England. Sites
including Hengistbury and Iping C, which have assemblages that lack tools such as burins, axes
and drill bits, are found on high ground and generally occur on sandstone. In contrast, Downton
and Thatcham III, on relatively low ground and on silty substrates, have more diverse toolkits.
These latter appear to be locations where a wider range of activities was undertaken, compared
with the specialized manufacture and use of hunting equipment on the higher sites.
Microwear analysis and tool function
Microwear analysis, as already described, may give indications of artefact functions. At Gleann
Mor, for instance, some microliths were employed as projectile points, identifiable due to tell-tale
striations left on their surfaces. Other microliths here had clearly been used in a circular motion,
apparently as bits for awls or drills.
While the Star Carr microwear analyses showed that a variety of tasks had been undertaken,
few relationships between tool types and specific functions were noted. For instance, 56 scrapers
(of 374 from the site) were examined for wear traces: 36 showed signs of use, representing 55
episodes. These were mainly scraping/planing actions, directed principally against hide (40 per
cent), bone (22 per cent), antler (22 per cent) and wood (13 per cent). Hints of differences in the
morphology of artefacts used on different materials were noted: those used on antler tend to be
longer and more curved.
A detailed microwear study was undertaken on artefacts from Thatcham (Healey et al. 1992).
The results included the identification of a specialist area for bone and antler working. Of six
microliths examined, only one appeared to have been a projectile; the remainder had signs of use
as borers and piercers.
Debitage analysis and site function
Tools usually only constitute a small fraction of the artefacts from a site. Much more common is
the manufacturing waste, or debitage; indeed retouched tools often form as little as 1 per cent of
an assemblage. This division between tools and waste needs careful consideration. At Thatcham,
for example, a higher percentage of unretouched artefact edges had been used compared to
those that exhibited retouch. ‘Debitage’ thus includes tools that are not retouched.
Mesolithic sites on Islay illustrate how debitage can be studied. The proportions of tools at
Coulererach and Bolsay Farm are very similar. At Coulererach, however, the debitage is dominated
by large cores and flakes, often the first detached from the raw material; indeed, several discarded
flint beach pebbles had just one or two flakes removed. Nodules were tested for quality and the
initial stages of flint knapping took place; there was little concern for efficient use of materials.
In contrast, at Bolsay Farm, most cores are small and debitage is dominated by little flakes