ABSTRACT

This paper presents a new model for the palaeogeography of an important archaeological region in northern Scotland – the former Loch Spynie, Moray. The method employed refines existing glacio-isostatic adjustment and relative sea-level models for the Holocene with open data sources of geomorphological, geotechnical and archaeological data to constrain the proposed former extent of marine, estuarine and other wetland environment through time. The study area is shown to be an important isolation basin that is highly likely to preserve dateable relative sea-level index points. The resulting palaeogeographic model for the former Loch Spynie estuary is then used to develop an archaeological narrative of coastal and maritime activity in later prehistory critiquing and supporting an emergent paradigm in understanding later prehistory in northern Scotland. This study demonstrates how it is possible to develop palaeogeographic models at scales useful for site-based archaeological interpretation bridging a problematic gap in archaeological narratives.

摘要

本文提出了一种新的古地理模型，用于研究苏格兰北部一个重要考古地区——前斯比尼湖、海鳗。所采用的方法通过地貌、岩土和考古数据的开放数据源改进了全新世现有的冰川等静压调整和相对海平面模型，以随着时间的推移限制拟议的海洋、河口和其他湿地环境的先前范围。该研究区被证明是一个重要的隔离盆地，极有可能保留可测日期的相对海平面指数点。由此产生的前史比尼湖河口的古地理模型随后被用于发展沿海和海洋活动的考古叙事，以用于后来的史前批判，并支持理解苏格兰北部晚期史前史的新兴范式。