英國考古學家挖出萬年老宅
一株有1.1萬年歷史的巨大的樹幹樹皮依然保存完整。
考古學家們聲稱他們發現了已知的英國最古老的房子，迄今為止已經有大約1.1萬年的歷史。
這個圓形的建築位於英國北部北約克郡（North Yorkshire）斯卡伯勒市（Scarborough）附近的斯塔卡（Star Carr）考古遺址。
考古學家推測，這個直徑為3.5米的圓形建築建造於公元前8500年，比早先科學家們發現的英國最古老房屋還要早上500年。
來自曼徹斯特大學和約克大學的考古小組成員還在房屋附近發現了一個木製碼頭廢墟，他們一致認為這是在歐洲出現的最古老的木工作業。
約克大學的考古學家尼奇·米爾奈（Nicky Milner）表示，這一發現非常罕見，令人難以置信。最重要的是，這些考古證據改變了現代人對於古代獵人的一些固有認識。
他說，「這實在是個顛覆性的發現。之前我們認為古代獵人更像牧民，他們的移動性非常強。然而現在我們發現他們更樂於在某個地方長期居住下來，一代一代過著遠比我們想像的要複雜得多的生活。」
第一批定居者
考古學家認為，房屋的建造者是冰河世紀末期第一批來英國長期居住的定居者。研究人員還發現， 這座房屋被拋棄前至少使用了200年到500年。另外，該房屋曾經被翻修過，在該建築附近也極有可能出現類似的建築。
這些考古證據意味著，這個時期的人類更願意在某地長期定居下來，而非經常性的「遷徙」到別處。
打獵生活
居住在斯塔卡的古代人靠打獵為生，他們在家犬的幫助下捕殺麋鹿和野豬等動物為食。研究人員還發現了一個巨大的樹幹，儘管經過1.1萬年的風吹雨淋，樹皮依然保存完整。
曼徹斯特大學的尚塔爾·柯奈勒（Chantal Conneller）說，「我們曾經以為古代人不樂意定居，幾乎沒留下什麼證據。現在我們知道他們曾經建造過大型建築，也非常樂意在某些特定的風景環境下長期居住下來。」
考古隊員們還收到了來自高等教育部長大衛·維萊茨（David Willetts）的祝賀。他說，「這個偉大的發現讓我們更清楚的認識到了現代和古代生活的相似與差異，也徹底地改變了我們的固有認識。」
Wikipedia: Star Carr |
Star Carr is a Mesolithic archaeological site in North Yorkshire, England. It is around five miles south of Scarborough (grid reference TA02798100).[1]
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Excavations
The site belongs to the early Mesolithic and was occupied from around 8770 BC until about 8460 BC, possibly with a period of abandonment between 8680 BC and 8580 BC.[2] It was discovered in 1947 during the clearing of a field drain by John Moore, an archaeologist from Scarborough. It was then excavated from 1949-1951 by Professor Grahame Clark of the University of Cambridge.
Clark found what he called a brushwood platform which appeared on the edge of the former Lake Flixton.[3] The platform would have been laid down to consolidate the boggy water's edge. Recent excavations have revealed that people would have lived on the dry land upslope of the lake and at the lake edge various activities would have been carried out.
There is much debate about when in the year it was occupied. Mesolithic people hunted a number of animals including red and roe deer, elk, aurochs and wild boar.[2] but there are various seasonal assessments and as the site was occupied over several hundred years it is likely that seasonal practices varied over time.
The mud of the lake has preserved items dropped into it and flint, bone and antler tools and manufacturing debris have been found. The flint came from nearby beaches, which at time of occupation would have been about 10-20 km distant, and also from the Yorkshire Wolds immediately to the south of the site.
A fragment of a wooden oar implies that the people who occupied the site also built boats, probably coracles or simple canoes used to travel or fish. There was also occupation on some of the islands on the lake which confirms the use of boats. Beads made from stone and amber suggest personal adornment. Remains of a dog are indication of the animal's domestication during this period.
The most famous finds are the headdresses made from red deer skulls with the antlers still attached. The skull had two holes perforated in it and it has been suggested that it was used as a hunting disguise, or in some form of ritual practice. Recent work suggests that these, along with other objects made from red deer antler, appear to have been respectfully deposited at the lake edge due to the spiritual significance of red deer to the people who occupied the site.
Excavations at Star Carr are currently being undertaken by a team from the University of York and University of Manchester, led by leading experts Nicky Milner, Chantal Conneller and Barry Taylor.
Star Carr house
In August 2010, the team announced that they had discovered the oldest known house in Britain, dated to 10,500 years before the present. The Star Carr house was comparable to an Iron Age roundhouse, about 3.5 metres (11 ft) wide and made of wood. It is believed to have been used for between 200-500 years after its construction.[4]
References
- ^ "Star Carr". Pastscape.org.uk. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=80206. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ a b Scarre (2005), p. 397.
- ^ Scarre (2005), p. 396.
- ^ Coughlan, Sean (10 August 2010). "Archaeologists discover Britain's 'oldest house'". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10929343.
Bibliography
- Scarre, Chris (ed) (2005). The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-28531-4.
- Legge, Anthony J.; Peter Rowley-Conwy (1988). Star Carr Revisited; a Re-analysis of the Large Mammals. Birkbeck College. ISBN 0-7187-0876-8.
External links
- New Excavations at Star Carr, University of York
- Star Carr, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge
- In The Beginning, From Dot to Domesday
- Red deer antler head-dress from Star Carr, British Museum
- Stone Age remains are Britain's earliest house, University of Manchester
- Star Carr - The Otherside of the Antler, video about the excavations in 2006, Vale of Pickering Archaeological Trus
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