Mesolithic Sites

Here are some famous sites belonging to the Mesolithic from around 12,000 years ago!

Aveline’s Hole, Somerset

This is a cave in the Mendip Hills. People laid out burials in the cave 10,300 years ago, making this Britain’s oldest known cemetery. Mesolithic burials are very rare, and there were between 70 and 100 burials here. Sadly, the cave was discovered in 1797, before archaeology had developed as a discipline, and the skeletons have all been lost. Luckily, 21 skeletons were left behind in the cave for archaeologists to excavate in the 1920s and 30s. Bad luck followed however, when the finds were destroyed by bombing during the 2nd World War. What few remains survive have since been radiocarbon dated. Engraved lines have since been found on the walls of the cave, a very rare example of Mesolithic art.

Broom Hill, Hampshire

A settlement of four houses, each about 5 metres wide, found in 1971. One of these has been dated to 8,500 years ago. With 90,000 flint artefacts, this is easily the largest assemblage of Mesolithic artefacts in Britain.

Howick, Northumberland

A house, 5 metres wide, discovered in 2000. The house was built 9,800 years ago and rebuilt twice over the next 100 years. 16,000 flints were found along with large amounts of hazel nut shells and animal bones. This is one of the oldest houses yet found in Britain.

Star Carr, Yorkshire

Dating from 10,700–10,400 years ago, this was a lake-side settlement, excavated to an unprecedented high standard by Sir Grahame Clark. It became famous as a key site for studying the way of life of Mesolithic people. It had many finds preserved in peat that on other sites would have decayed and disappeared. Finds included a wooden oar, bone and antler tools, and the skeleton of a domestic dog. The site is still being investigated, and there is a lot of disagreement over what went on at the site. For example, some see it as a settlement, some as a working area for processing animal hides, others see it as a rubbish dump. What is clear is that the site was occupied from spring to autumn every year for about 300 years.