Ceramics of the Tyne-Forth Region, C. 3500-1500 BC.

Abstract

Since the beginnings of archaeology, the study of the past in the Tyne-Forth region has been shadowed by the influence of the political boundary that divides it. Although it has long been acknowledged by archaeologists that the modern polities of Scotland and England did not exist in the past, this divide has continued to affect research design, interpretation and publication. In addition to this, the focus on 'core areas', such as Wessex and Orkney, have long been used to interpret the findings in this region, although the remains found between the Tyne and Forth continue to demonstrate that this area was unique and did not necessarily adhere to the same lifeways as these distant lands. For too long this has caused the area to be seen as a periphery. This research has attempted to consider the Neolithic and Bronze Age of this area as a whole, by ignoring the Anglo-Scottish border and by considering the archaeological remains of the entire region using a single methodology and the data was evaluated to establish the norms for the region first, before relating it to what is known nationally. Experimental work was first carried out to learn more about the material and the ways ceramics can be studied in order to design the research so that it would yield the greatest amount of data. A provenance study of the archaeological remains was then carried out. A total of 333 vessels from the Middle Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age, including: Impressed Ware, Grooved Ware, Beaker, Food Vessel, Vase Urns, Collared Urns, Cordoned Urns and Bucket Urns were examined. The resulting data were statistically analysed and evidence for cultural interaction, particularly during the introduction of Beakers, was found. The presence local influence on some pottery (previously identified as Neolithic-derived pottery by Millson et al. 2012 in the Milfield Basin, Northumberland) was also recorded throughout the region. Both of these important findings were considered in-depth and a better understanding of the Late Neolithic/Bronze Age transition is proposed for this region.