Mesolithic Scotland and its Neighbours from 2004

Conference

On the 17th June 2017, there will be a day conference in honour of Alan Saville, past Society of Antiquaries of Scotland President.

The day will comprise a set of brief talks but, more importantly, lots of discussion related to the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic occupation of Scotland, focused on the possible dwellings and ‘houses’ that have been excavated over the past few years. Since the 1999 conference and 2004 publication of Mesolithic Scotland and its Neighbours, (available as a PDF as part of the Society publications at the ADS), which Alan edited, we now have more evidence for those neighbours, the wider early prehistoric landscape, and indeed about the occupation of Scotland itself.

Alan was known to be concerned about the means by which such sites might be recognised during fieldwork and in the processes used in their excavation. The aim of the conference would be to disseminate information on and experiences of such sites since 1999; and it would be a fitting tribute to Alan if the result was greater understanding of these structures and their landscapes, feeding into their better detection, research and management in the future.

We anticipate that the audience to this open event will include anyone interested in or involved with researching the Palaeolithic and/or Mesolithic, or managing the remains the period.

Agenda

Welcome
0930-1000 Registration with teas and coffees
1000-1010 Welcome and introduction to the day (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland)

Morning Session
Chaired by Caroline Wickham Jones, Independent researcher and co-chair with Alan Saville of the 2012 ScARF Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Panel report

• 1010 – 1030 Palaeogeography and the Quaternary palaeolandscape resource (Dr Andrew Bicket, Wessex Archaeology (Scotland))
• 1035 – 1100 Mesolithic pit houses: an overview (Dr Clive Waddington, Archaeological Research Services Ltd)
• 1100 – 1125 Organisation of Stone Age dwellings from Gordon Childe to Scandinavia: some new results. (Dr Ole Grøn University of Copenhagen)
• 1125 – 1150 Beyond Howburn – an overview of Scottish LUP industries and discussion of the road ahead (Dr Torben Bjarke Ballin, Lithic Research and Hon Research Fellow, University of Bradford)
• 1150 – 1215 Discussion

12:15-13:00 Lunch (provided)

Afternoon Session
Chaired by Dr Kirsty Owen, Historic Environment Scotland

This session will explore specific sites and the archaeology brought to bear on them, with the aim of examining the issues around the prospection, excavation and management of lithic scatters and early buildings. The aim will be to consider what can be done better in future.

• 1300-1325 Little House in the Mountains: the Upper Dee Tributaries Project, Mar Lodge Estate, Aberdeenshire (Dr Graeme Warren, University College Dublin)
• 1325-1350 East Barns and some not yet published sites (Rob Engl, AOC)
• 1350-1415 Platforms for collaboration: experiences from recent Mesolithic excavations at the Forth Crossing (Julie Lochrie and Kirsty Dingwall, Headland Archaeology)
• 1415-1440 The view from the West (Dr Karen Hardy, ICREA, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies and Department of Prehistory, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
• 1440-1505 Dunragit (Warren Bailie, GUARD)
• 1505-1600 Discussion
• 1600-1610 Closing remarks from the Society and ScARF
• 1610 Close

Register

Attendance is free and travel bursaries are available. Book your space through the Society website and apply for a travel bursary through this form: travel_bursary_application-1.

The conference is being organised by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, ScARF and Wessex Archaeology (Scotland).