Rethinking Human Responses to Sea-level Rise: The Mesolithic Occupation of the Channel Islands

Chantal Conneller, Martin Bates, Richard Bates, Tim Schadla-Hall, Edward Blinkhorn, James Cole, Matthew Pope, Beccy Scott, Andrew Shaw, David Underhill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This work provides new insights into human responses to and perceptions of sea-level rise at a time when the landscapes of north-west Europe were radically changing. These issues are investigated through a case study focused on the Channel Islands. We report on the excavation of two sites, Canal du Squez in Jersey and Lihou (GU582) in Guernsey, and the study of museum collections across the Channel Islands. We argue that people were drawn to this area as a result of the dynamic environmental processes occurring and the opportunities these created. The evidence suggests that the area was a particular focus during the Middle Mesolithic, when Guernsey and Alderney were already islands and while Jersey was a peninsula of northern France. Insularisation does not appear to have created a barrier to occupation during either the Middle or Final Mesolithic, indicating the appearance of lifeways increasingly focused on maritime voyaging and marine resources from the second half of the 9th millenniumBConwards.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-71
Number of pages45
JournalProceedings of The Prehistoric Society
Volume82
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Mar 2016

Keywords

  • Sea-level rise
  • Mesolithic
  • marine resources
  • Channel Islands
  • maritime voyaging

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