Landscapes for Neolithic People in Mainland, Orkney

Elaine Dunbar,Michelle Farrell,Alasdair Whittle,Alex Bayliss,Peter Marshall,Paula Reimer,M Jane Bunting

doi:10.1007/s10963-022-09166-y

Abstract

Neolithic occupation of the Orkney Islands, in the north of Scotland, probably began in the mid fourth millennium cal BC, culminating in a range of settlements, including stone-built houses, varied stone-built tombs and two noteworthy stone circles. The environmental and landscape context of the spectacular archaeology, however, remains poorly understood. We applied the Multiple Scenario Approach (MSA) to Neolithic pollen records from Mainland, Orkney, in order to understand land cover and landscape openness across the timespan 4200–2200 cal BC. Interpreted within a framework provided by Bayesian chronological modelling, 406 radiocarbon dates from archaeological contexts and a further 103 from palaeoenvironmental samples provide the basis for the first detailed reconstruction of the spatio-temporal patterns of Neolithic people and their environment. Major alterations to the land cover of Mainland took place from 3400 cal BC (reduction in woodland from 20% to 10%) and from 3200 cal BC (increase in disturbed land from 3% to 30%). The dramatic increase in disturbed land coincided with the Grooved Ware phenomenon and the establishment of settlements at Skara Brae and Ness of Brodgar. The upturn in the signal for disturbance communities in the pollen record may indicate an increase in the amount of land used as pasture. This accords with the archaeological record, since the Neolithic Orcadian economy probably relied heavily on cattle for subsistence. By 2800 cal BC in the core of the Orkney Mainland, most settlements appear to have been ending, with people dispersing into the wider landscape, as the MSA modelling indicates a maintenance of disturbed land, and indeed a subsequent slight increase, implying persistence of human activity elsewhere in Mainland. People exhausted themselves rather than their land; that and its varied resources endured, while the intensive social relationships and practices of the peak of late Neolithic Orkney could not be maintained.

Highlights

Landscape Questions for Neolithic OrkneyProbably beginning somewhere in the mid fourth millennium cal BC, Neolithic people established occupation of the Orkney Islands in the north of Scotland
Far-flung connectivity is evident in the forms of monuments, such as passage graves and stone circles, and in the styles of material culture including Grooved Ware pottery, which appears to have emerged in the 32nd century cal BC; more precise chronologies are another important feature of recent and ongoing research (Bayliss et al, 2017; Griffiths, 2016; Griffiths & Richards, 2013; Schulting et al, 2010)
Neolithic landnám or land taking is usually identified in pollen records through increases in pollen from plants found in open areas, which respond as forest canopy is disturbed by both deliberate actions and unintended consequences of actions, but the landscape in Orkney and other northern European margins already contained large areas of open vegetation suitable for pasture or garden cropping, where the ‘indicator’ species would have naturally been present

Summary

Introduction

Landscape Questions for Neolithic OrkneyProbably beginning somewhere in the mid fourth millennium cal BC, Neolithic people established occupation of the Orkney Islands in the north of Scotland. We applied the MSA to Neolithic pollen records from Mainland, Orkney, in order to develop a spatially explicit, synthesised, semi-quantitative reconstruction of land cover and landscape openness across the period 4200–2200 cal BC.

Results

Conclusion