At Goldcliff, Newport, a promontory that projects into the Severn Estuary was formerly an island. Sites around the edge of this island were occupied at lower sea levels and when the sea levels rose these sites were buried and preserved by silts and peats. At the base of the stratigraphic sequence were the remains of an oak forest dated 6000 BC and settlement took place between then and 4700 BC. Activity is represented by scatters of flint, chert and tuff artefacts as well as wood, bone and antler tools. Bones of deer, extinct wild cattle, pigs, otters and fish, especially eels, represent the animal resources exploited. Stratified within estuarine silts around the edge of the former island are human footprints.
Although the Mesolithic sites are mostly concentrated in coastal areas, i.e. in the north, e.g. Rhuddlan (flint and chert tools) in Denbighshire, dated 7000 BC; and south, e.g. Nab Head (burnt hazelnut shells), Pembrokeshire, dated 7200 BC; and there is also evidence of exploitation of upland areas, e.g. the apparent seasonal hunting site around the Llyn Brenig reservoir, Denbighshire, dated from charcoal at 5700 BC.
Leave a Reply