Bouldnor Cliff Mesolithic Village
Encyclopedia
Bouldnor Cliff is a submerged prehistoric settlement site in the Solent
. The site dates from the Mesolithic
era and is in approximately 11 metres (12 yd) of water just offshore of the village of Bouldnor on the Isle of Wight
in the United Kingdom
. The preservation of organic materials from this era that do not normally survive on dry land has made Bouldnor important to the understanding of Mesolithic Britain.
The site was first discovered by divers from the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
in 1999, when a lobster was observed discarding worked flint tools from its burrow on the seabed. Since then, several years of fieldwork have revealed that Bouldnor was a settlement site about 8,000 years ago, at a time when lower sea levels meant that the Solent was just a river valley. The work done so far has already revealed that the technology of Mesolithic settlers was probably 2,000 years ahead of what had previously been believed.
era, between 8000 and 4000 BC, the western Solent was a sheltered river basin, rich in woodland and fed by a river at Lymington
and drained by the Western Yar
at Freshwater
. As sea levels rose, the Solent eventually flooded and the settlement area was swamped. The rising waters deposited silt and mud onto the original land surface, covering and preserving it.
with large quantities of peat that dated to a similar period.
The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
began mapping the cliff face and selected four main sites of interest (named BC 1–4). It was while diving in 11 metres (12 yd) of water on BC 2 in 1999, that divers noticed a burrowing lobster discarding worked flints
from its burrow. The lobster had burrowed through thick mud deposits that had formed since the Solent flooded, and into the original surface of the cliff when the Solent was dry.
Since 1999, divers have excavated at Bouldnor every year. Further discoveries were made at BC 2 and BC 4, and a later a new site was discovered nearby (BC 5). The dangerous diving conditions in the fast flowing waters of the Solent make archaeological investigation particularly difficult and archaeologists have used several new techniques to make analysis of the sea bed easier. This has included ‘box sampling’ – collecting large areas of sea bed in metal tins in order to raise them to the surface and more thoroughly excavate their contents on dry land.
Under a large mound of worked timbers at BC 5, archaeologists discovered large areas of burnt clay, burnt flint and charcoal, which has been interpreted as the floor of a living space. Other timbers show signs of having been extensively worked on. Some split oak suggests that particularly large structures, or possibly boats, were being constructed at the site. Another timber shows signs of having been fashioned as a type of conduit, which is not something that has ever been seen in Mesolithic archaeology before. Some of the worked timbers indicate technological skills that had previously only been associated with the Neolithic era, 2000 years later than Bouldnor.
Burnt hazelnuts and oak charcoal have also been found at BC 5. Like the wood, these types of organic material do not normally survive well in dry, land based, environments. A pit dug into the clay at BC 5 had been filled with burnt clay nodules, charcoal and burnt stones, which had been covered with a large piece of wood. Examining the pit walls revealed that the pit had probably been filled with hot stones on several occasions. Other trenches
have revealed chipped wood flakes, flint knapping flakes and even wound fibres that appear to been used as string. Many of the finds suggest evidence of small scale industry as well as settlement.
The work done at Bouldnor is exhibited in the Trust's museum, the Underwater Archaeology Centre
at Fort Victoria
on the Isle of Wight.
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
. The site dates from the Mesolithic
Mesolithic
The Mesolithic is an archaeological concept used to refer to certain groups of archaeological cultures defined as falling between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic....
era and is in approximately 11 metres (12 yd) of water just offshore of the village of Bouldnor on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The preservation of organic materials from this era that do not normally survive on dry land has made Bouldnor important to the understanding of Mesolithic Britain.
The site was first discovered by divers from the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology is a charitable trust that researches and excavates maritime archaeology and heritage in Great Britain...
in 1999, when a lobster was observed discarding worked flint tools from its burrow on the seabed. Since then, several years of fieldwork have revealed that Bouldnor was a settlement site about 8,000 years ago, at a time when lower sea levels meant that the Solent was just a river valley. The work done so far has already revealed that the technology of Mesolithic settlers was probably 2,000 years ahead of what had previously been believed.
Site formation
Investigations suggest that during the MesolithicMesolithic
The Mesolithic is an archaeological concept used to refer to certain groups of archaeological cultures defined as falling between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic....
era, between 8000 and 4000 BC, the western Solent was a sheltered river basin, rich in woodland and fed by a river at Lymington
Lymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
and drained by the Western Yar
Western Yar
The River Yar on the Isle of Wight, England, rises near the beach at Freshwater Bay, on the south coast of the island and flows only a few miles north to Yarmouth, on the north coast, where it meets the Solent. Most of the river is a tidal estuary...
at Freshwater
Freshwater, Isle of Wight
Freshwater is a large village and civil parish at the western end of the Isle of Wight, England. Freshwater Bay is a small cove on the south coast of the Island which also gives its name to the nearby part of Freshwater....
. As sea levels rose, the Solent eventually flooded and the settlement area was swamped. The rising waters deposited silt and mud onto the original land surface, covering and preserving it.
Discovery
Fishermen had reported recovering stone tools from the seabed of the Solent since the 1960s, but it was not until 1987 that the submerged remains of an ancient forest were discovered at Bouldnor. Later radiocarbon dating of pollen revealed this to be approximately 8,000 years old. Subsequently, regular dives revealed a submerged cliff east of YarmouthYarmouth, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river...
with large quantities of peat that dated to a similar period.
The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology
The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology is a charitable trust that researches and excavates maritime archaeology and heritage in Great Britain...
began mapping the cliff face and selected four main sites of interest (named BC 1–4). It was while diving in 11 metres (12 yd) of water on BC 2 in 1999, that divers noticed a burrowing lobster discarding worked flints
Stone tool
A stone tool is, in the most general sense, any tool made either partially or entirely out of stone. Although stone tool-dependent societies and cultures still exist today, most stone tools are associated with prehistoric, particularly Stone Age cultures that have become extinct...
from its burrow. The lobster had burrowed through thick mud deposits that had formed since the Solent flooded, and into the original surface of the cliff when the Solent was dry.
Since 1999, divers have excavated at Bouldnor every year. Further discoveries were made at BC 2 and BC 4, and a later a new site was discovered nearby (BC 5). The dangerous diving conditions in the fast flowing waters of the Solent make archaeological investigation particularly difficult and archaeologists have used several new techniques to make analysis of the sea bed easier. This has included ‘box sampling’ – collecting large areas of sea bed in metal tins in order to raise them to the surface and more thoroughly excavate their contents on dry land.
Findings
Archaeologists have discovered large quantities of burnt flints, mounds of timbers and pits dug into the ground. Wood from this era does not normally preserve well in land environments, so the quantity of wood found at Bouldnor makes the site of international importance.Under a large mound of worked timbers at BC 5, archaeologists discovered large areas of burnt clay, burnt flint and charcoal, which has been interpreted as the floor of a living space. Other timbers show signs of having been extensively worked on. Some split oak suggests that particularly large structures, or possibly boats, were being constructed at the site. Another timber shows signs of having been fashioned as a type of conduit, which is not something that has ever been seen in Mesolithic archaeology before. Some of the worked timbers indicate technological skills that had previously only been associated with the Neolithic era, 2000 years later than Bouldnor.
Burnt hazelnuts and oak charcoal have also been found at BC 5. Like the wood, these types of organic material do not normally survive well in dry, land based, environments. A pit dug into the clay at BC 5 had been filled with burnt clay nodules, charcoal and burnt stones, which had been covered with a large piece of wood. Examining the pit walls revealed that the pit had probably been filled with hot stones on several occasions. Other trenches
Trench
A trench is a type of excavation or depression in the ground. Trenches are generally defined by being deeper than they are wide , and by being narrow compared to their length ....
have revealed chipped wood flakes, flint knapping flakes and even wound fibres that appear to been used as string. Many of the finds suggest evidence of small scale industry as well as settlement.
The work done at Bouldnor is exhibited in the Trust's museum, the Underwater Archaeology Centre
Underwater Archaeology Centre
The Underwater Archaeology Centre is a museum located in Fort Victoria on the Isle of Wight, England.The museum is run by the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology and is housed in five of the fort's former casemates. Since it was opened in 1990 the museum has been used to display...
at Fort Victoria
Fort Victoria (Isle of Wight)
Fort Victoria was a single tier battery with defensible barracks west of Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England, built in the 1850s, later used as a submarine mining centre and training area for military purposes....
on the Isle of Wight.
External links
- Bouldnor Cliff The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology’s information on Bouldnor Cliff.
- The moment Britain became an island BBC news article with video of HWTMA archaeologists diving on Bouldnor Cliff.