The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century bc marks ... more The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century bc marks a significant archaeological horizon, being synchronous with the first metal artefacts. The adoption of arsenical copper, mostly from Ireland, was followed by that of tin-bronze around 2200 bc. However, whilst the copper mine of Ross Island in Ireland is securely dated to the Early Bronze Age, and further such mines in the UK have been dated to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, the evidence for the exploitation of tin ores, the other key ingredient to make bronze, has remained circumstantial. This article contains the detailed analyses of seven stone artefacts from securely dated contexts, using a combination of surface pXRF and microwear analysis. The results provide strong evidence that the tools were used in cassiterite processing. The combined analysis of these artefacts documents in detail the exploitation of Cornish tin during this early phase of metal use in Britain and Ireland.
The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century BC marks ... more The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century BC marks a significant archaeological horizon, being synchronous with the first metal artefacts. The adoption of arsenical copper, mostly from Ireland, was followed by that of tin-bronze around 2200 BC. However, whilst the copper mine of Ross Island in Ireland is securely dated to the Early Bronze Age, and further such mines in the UK have been dated to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, the evidence for the exploitation of tin ores, the other key ingredient to make bronze, has remained circumstantial. This article contains the detailed analyses of seven stone artefacts from securely dated contexts, using a combination of surface pXRF and microwear analysis. The results provide strong evidence that the tools were used in cassiterite processing. The combined analysis of these artefacts documents in detail the exploitation of Cornish tin during this early phase of metal use in Britain and Ireland.
Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amo... more Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amongst the most famous in Africa, and have attracted archaeological attention since the early twentieth century (Sayce, 1912, 55). Early excavations focused on revealing impressive temples and monumental architectures (e.g. Garstang et al., 1911), rather than the excavation of the slagheaps that were readily visible across the cityscape. Some of the earlier considerations of iron working at Meroe followed a culture history perspective in explaining diffusion of iron technology across North Africa (e.g. Trigger, 1969), although this evidence was largely derived from the occurrence of iron artefacts in graves, rather that excavated evidence of iron production technology. Meroe was considered fundamental to both the supply of iron to ancient Egypt (Sayce, 1912, 55; Török, 1997), and to the origins of iron production in sub-Saharan Africa. Stylistically, Meroitic iron production was likened to...
Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amo... more Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amongst the most famous in Africa, and have attracted archaeological attention since the early twentieth century (Sayce, 1912, 55). Early excavations focused on revealing impressive temples and monumental architectures (e.g. Garstang et al., 1911), rather than the excavation of the slagheaps that were readily visible across the cityscape. Some of the earlier considerations of iron working at Meroe followed a culture history perspective in explaining diffusion of iron technology across North Africa (e.g. Trigger, 1969), although this evidence was largely derived from the occurrence of iron artefacts in graves, rather that excavated evidence of iron production technology. Meroe was considered fundamental to both the supply of iron to ancient Egypt (Sayce, 1912, 55; Török, 1997), and to the origins of iron production in sub-Saharan Africa. Stylistically, Meroitic iron production was likened to...
This paper attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period an... more This paper attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period and Bronze Age in southern England. However, any attempt to discuss the social context of metalworking in these periods, i.e. who was working metals and where these activities occurred, is confronted with an extremely low evidence base of excavated archaeological sites where metalworking is known to have taken place. This lack of data and subsequent understanding of metalworking locations stands in stark contrast to the thousands of Beaker and Bronze Age metal artefacts housed in museum archives across Britain. These metal artefacts bear witness to the ability of people in Beaker and Bronze Age societies in Britain, and particularly southern England, to obtain, transform and use metals since the introduction of copper at c.2450 BC. Such metal artefacts have been subject to detailed analytical programmes, which have revealed information on the supply and recycling of metals. Likewise, there...
ABSTRACT This paper will present the case that geomorphology must be an integral part of any atte... more ABSTRACT This paper will present the case that geomorphology must be an integral part of any attempt to define the Anthropocene as a geological period or any particular rank. It is postulated that there is a clear lithostratigraphic boundary which can easily identified in the field and which represents a fundamental change in sediment transfer processes, and rates, caused by human activity and particularly agriculture. Two case studies in England (central & southwest) show how a 6-10 fold increase in floodplain sedimentation resulted from the erosion of arable fields but over very different time periods. This highlights the constrained diachrony of alluviation in Europe as compared to other areas where the conversion of land to large-scale intensive cultivation was more synchronous. There are good reasons to believe that these legacy sediments, and this near-global lithostratigraphic boundary, will persist into the future geological record. Lastly the implications of this for any demarcation of the Anthropocene will be discussed. This paper is a contribution by the British Geomorphological Society Working Group on the Anthropocene.
Archaeological applications of airborne lidar topographic data are now well established and docum... more Archaeological applications of airborne lidar topographic data are now well established and documented. However, less well explored by archaeologists and palaeoenvironmentalists are the potential applications of lidar intensity data. Here we explore this potential to remotely determine the differential preservation potential of valley floor sediments, within a temperate, lowland environment, especially where preserved within palaeochannels. We compare airborne lidar intensity
This article attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period ... more This article attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period and Bronze Age in southern England. However, any attempt to discuss the social context of metalworking in these periods, i.e. who was working metals and where these activities occurred, is confronted with an extremely low evidence base of excavated archaeological sites where metalworking is known to have taken place. This lack of data and subsequent understanding of metalworking locations stands in stark contrast to the thousands of Beaker and Bronze Age metal artefacts housed in museum archives across Britain. These metal artefacts bear witness to the ability of people in Beaker and Bronze Age societies in Britain, and particularly southern England, to obtain, transform and use metals since the introduction of copper at c.2450 BC. Such metal artefacts have been subject to detailed analytical programmes, which have revealed information on the supply and recycling of metals. Likewise, there have also been significant advances in our understanding of the prehistoric mining of metals across the British Isles, with Beaker and Bronze Age mines identified in locations such as Ross Island (Ireland), the Great Orme (UK) and Alderley Edge (UK). Consequently, there is detailed archaeological knowledge about the two ends of the metalworking spectrum: the obtaining of the metal ores from the ground and the finished artefacts. However, the evidence for who was working metals and where is almost completely lacking. This article discusses the archaeological evidence of the location of metalworking areas in these periods and dissects the reasons why so few have been found within archaeological excavation, with the evidence for early metallurgy likely to be slight and ambiguous, and possibly not identifiable as metalworking remains during excavation. Suggestions are made as to where such metalworking activities could have taken place in the Beaker period and Bronze Age, and what techniques can be applied to discover some of this evidence of metalworking activity, to allow access to the social dimensions of early metalworking and metalworkers.
The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century bc marks ... more The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century bc marks a significant archaeological horizon, being synchronous with the first metal artefacts. The adoption of arsenical copper, mostly from Ireland, was followed by that of tin-bronze around 2200 bc. However, whilst the copper mine of Ross Island in Ireland is securely dated to the Early Bronze Age, and further such mines in the UK have been dated to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, the evidence for the exploitation of tin ores, the other key ingredient to make bronze, has remained circumstantial. This article contains the detailed analyses of seven stone artefacts from securely dated contexts, using a combination of surface pXRF and microwear analysis. The results provide strong evidence that the tools were used in cassiterite processing. The combined analysis of these artefacts documents in detail the exploitation of Cornish tin during this early phase of metal use in Britain and Ireland.
The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century BC marks ... more The appearance of Beaker pottery in Britain and Ireland during the twenty-fifth century BC marks a significant archaeological horizon, being synchronous with the first metal artefacts. The adoption of arsenical copper, mostly from Ireland, was followed by that of tin-bronze around 2200 BC. However, whilst the copper mine of Ross Island in Ireland is securely dated to the Early Bronze Age, and further such mines in the UK have been dated to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, the evidence for the exploitation of tin ores, the other key ingredient to make bronze, has remained circumstantial. This article contains the detailed analyses of seven stone artefacts from securely dated contexts, using a combination of surface pXRF and microwear analysis. The results provide strong evidence that the tools were used in cassiterite processing. The combined analysis of these artefacts documents in detail the exploitation of Cornish tin during this early phase of metal use in Britain and Ireland.
Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amo... more Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amongst the most famous in Africa, and have attracted archaeological attention since the early twentieth century (Sayce, 1912, 55). Early excavations focused on revealing impressive temples and monumental architectures (e.g. Garstang et al., 1911), rather than the excavation of the slagheaps that were readily visible across the cityscape. Some of the earlier considerations of iron working at Meroe followed a culture history perspective in explaining diffusion of iron technology across North Africa (e.g. Trigger, 1969), although this evidence was largely derived from the occurrence of iron artefacts in graves, rather that excavated evidence of iron production technology. Meroe was considered fundamental to both the supply of iron to ancient Egypt (Sayce, 1912, 55; Török, 1997), and to the origins of iron production in sub-Saharan Africa. Stylistically, Meroitic iron production was likened to...
Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amo... more Introduction The ironworking remains at the ancient royal city of Meroe, Sudan (Figure 1) are amongst the most famous in Africa, and have attracted archaeological attention since the early twentieth century (Sayce, 1912, 55). Early excavations focused on revealing impressive temples and monumental architectures (e.g. Garstang et al., 1911), rather than the excavation of the slagheaps that were readily visible across the cityscape. Some of the earlier considerations of iron working at Meroe followed a culture history perspective in explaining diffusion of iron technology across North Africa (e.g. Trigger, 1969), although this evidence was largely derived from the occurrence of iron artefacts in graves, rather that excavated evidence of iron production technology. Meroe was considered fundamental to both the supply of iron to ancient Egypt (Sayce, 1912, 55; Török, 1997), and to the origins of iron production in sub-Saharan Africa. Stylistically, Meroitic iron production was likened to...
This paper attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period an... more This paper attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period and Bronze Age in southern England. However, any attempt to discuss the social context of metalworking in these periods, i.e. who was working metals and where these activities occurred, is confronted with an extremely low evidence base of excavated archaeological sites where metalworking is known to have taken place. This lack of data and subsequent understanding of metalworking locations stands in stark contrast to the thousands of Beaker and Bronze Age metal artefacts housed in museum archives across Britain. These metal artefacts bear witness to the ability of people in Beaker and Bronze Age societies in Britain, and particularly southern England, to obtain, transform and use metals since the introduction of copper at c.2450 BC. Such metal artefacts have been subject to detailed analytical programmes, which have revealed information on the supply and recycling of metals. Likewise, there...
ABSTRACT This paper will present the case that geomorphology must be an integral part of any atte... more ABSTRACT This paper will present the case that geomorphology must be an integral part of any attempt to define the Anthropocene as a geological period or any particular rank. It is postulated that there is a clear lithostratigraphic boundary which can easily identified in the field and which represents a fundamental change in sediment transfer processes, and rates, caused by human activity and particularly agriculture. Two case studies in England (central & southwest) show how a 6-10 fold increase in floodplain sedimentation resulted from the erosion of arable fields but over very different time periods. This highlights the constrained diachrony of alluviation in Europe as compared to other areas where the conversion of land to large-scale intensive cultivation was more synchronous. There are good reasons to believe that these legacy sediments, and this near-global lithostratigraphic boundary, will persist into the future geological record. Lastly the implications of this for any demarcation of the Anthropocene will be discussed. This paper is a contribution by the British Geomorphological Society Working Group on the Anthropocene.
Archaeological applications of airborne lidar topographic data are now well established and docum... more Archaeological applications of airborne lidar topographic data are now well established and documented. However, less well explored by archaeologists and palaeoenvironmentalists are the potential applications of lidar intensity data. Here we explore this potential to remotely determine the differential preservation potential of valley floor sediments, within a temperate, lowland environment, especially where preserved within palaeochannels. We compare airborne lidar intensity
This article attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period ... more This article attempts to consider the social dimensions of metalworking during the Beaker period and Bronze Age in southern England. However, any attempt to discuss the social context of metalworking in these periods, i.e. who was working metals and where these activities occurred, is confronted with an extremely low evidence base of excavated archaeological sites where metalworking is known to have taken place. This lack of data and subsequent understanding of metalworking locations stands in stark contrast to the thousands of Beaker and Bronze Age metal artefacts housed in museum archives across Britain. These metal artefacts bear witness to the ability of people in Beaker and Bronze Age societies in Britain, and particularly southern England, to obtain, transform and use metals since the introduction of copper at c.2450 BC. Such metal artefacts have been subject to detailed analytical programmes, which have revealed information on the supply and recycling of metals. Likewise, there have also been significant advances in our understanding of the prehistoric mining of metals across the British Isles, with Beaker and Bronze Age mines identified in locations such as Ross Island (Ireland), the Great Orme (UK) and Alderley Edge (UK). Consequently, there is detailed archaeological knowledge about the two ends of the metalworking spectrum: the obtaining of the metal ores from the ground and the finished artefacts. However, the evidence for who was working metals and where is almost completely lacking. This article discusses the archaeological evidence of the location of metalworking areas in these periods and dissects the reasons why so few have been found within archaeological excavation, with the evidence for early metallurgy likely to be slight and ambiguous, and possibly not identifiable as metalworking remains during excavation. Suggestions are made as to where such metalworking activities could have taken place in the Beaker period and Bronze Age, and what techniques can be applied to discover some of this evidence of metalworking activity, to allow access to the social dimensions of early metalworking and metalworkers.
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Papers by Chris Carey
This article discusses the archaeological evidence of the location of metalworking areas in these periods and dissects the reasons why so few have been found within archaeological excavation, with the evidence for early metallurgy likely to be slight and ambiguous, and possibly not identifiable as metalworking remains during excavation. Suggestions are made as to where such metalworking activities could have taken place in the Beaker period and Bronze Age, and what techniques can be applied to discover some of this evidence of metalworking activity, to allow access to the social dimensions of early metalworking and metalworkers.
This article discusses the archaeological evidence of the location of metalworking areas in these periods and dissects the reasons why so few have been found within archaeological excavation, with the evidence for early metallurgy likely to be slight and ambiguous, and possibly not identifiable as metalworking remains during excavation. Suggestions are made as to where such metalworking activities could have taken place in the Beaker period and Bronze Age, and what techniques can be applied to discover some of this evidence of metalworking activity, to allow access to the social dimensions of early metalworking and metalworkers.