OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BRITISH PALAEOLITHIC has changed dramatically over the last three decades and I’ve been privileged to have worked with excellent friends and colleagues in the pursuit of that subject through those years. More than any other period of archaeology it is a multidisciplinary subject that is reliant on and embraces a range of specialisms. They are as diverse as the study of pollen, beetles or the morphology of vole teeth, analysis of isotopes and amino acids, understanding of the earth’s magnetism or the changing geography of Britain. It is akin to detective work with tiny details contributing to big stories about Europe’s deep past.
The experts are often as interesting as their specialisms, which has created a wonderful and fascinating environment in which to work. Not all can be mentioned by name, but two stand out at the top of the list. I have worked with Simon Lewis and Simon Parfitt since the late 1980s and to them I owe a huge debt. Their work on the geological, environmental and indeed archaeological aspects of numerous projects has made a massive contribution to the subject, without which this book would not have been written.
Since 2001 we have been very fortunate to be part of initially the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain (AHOB) project funded by the Leverhulme Trust and more recently the Pathways to Ancient Britain (PAB) project funded by the Calleva Foundation. Much of the work would not have been achieved without their support. Chris Stringer, as director of both projects, has been a pleasure to work with and a tremendous support over the years. Others were a part of the initiation of these projects: Mark White, Andy Currant, Jim Rose and Danielle Schreve. I would also like to thank those who became involved and contributed to the work: Martin and Richard Bates, Silvia Bello, Dave Bridgland, Rachel Bynoe, Ian Candy, Rob Davis, Rob Dinnis, Justin Dix, Mike Field, Claire Harris, Marcus Hatch, Tom Higham, Peter Hoare, Rob Hosfield, Nigel Larkin, Mark Lewis, Adrian Lister, Kirsty Penkman, Matt Pope, Richard Preece, Wil Roebroeks, Beccy Scott, Andy Shaw, Tony Stuart, Fraser Sturt, Nobs Symmons, David Waterhouse and John Whittaker.
I have drawn on the work of many friends and colleagues, sometimes on the wider perspectives beyond Britain. Clive Gamble is at the root of much of this research, having set the agendas almost thirty years ago. My long-time sparring partner, John McNabb, I have known since an undergraduate; he has always provided an excellent sounding board for new ideas. Others include Nick Barton, Martin Bell, Chantal Conneller, Jill Cook, Robin Dennell, John Gowlett, Nicky Milner, Steve Mithen, Marie-Hélène Moncel, Marina Mosquera, Andreu Ollé, Paul Pettitt, Mark Roberts, Clive Waddington, Elizabeth Walker, Francis Wenban-Smith and Peter Woodman.
Two people who deserve special mention are no longer with us – John Wymer and Roger Jacobi, both good friends. As will be seen throughout the book their names crop up time and again. Between them they laid the foundations of the present study with their encyclopaedic minds, eye for detail, meticulous notes and a willingness to share their knowledge. Russell Coope and David Keen have also departed, whose work on beetles and molluscs respectively has helped paint so many of the colourful landscapes that we can discover from the past.
Digging does not happen by itself and literally hundreds of people have given their time over the last three decades, many already thanked above. Particular mention should go to Tudor Bryn Jones and Sophie Hunter who were there in the early years and I am sure will continue to contribute for many more. Others include Tim Ace, Sharon Gerber-Parfitt, Brian Irving, Cam Lewis, Debbie Musman, Karen Perkins, Cath Price, Pierre Schreve, Alan Slade and Ian Taylor. It is easy to remember the sunny days, but there were many weeks of cold, wet digging and it was the strong friendships that pulled us through.
I have been enormously fortunate with the generosity of those who have supplied many of the images. Of particular note is Craig Williams who produced the maps and the reconstruction of Crayford. Victor Ambrus of Time Team fame has kindly allowed the use of the reconstructions of Elveden and Goldcliff. Others not previously mentioned are Philip Buckland, Lynden Cooper, Julian Cross, Sarah Duffy, Terry Hardaker, John Lewis, Jean-Luc Locht, Hazel Martingell, Mike Page, Mike Palmer, David Parish, Andrew Snelling and Barry Taylor. I am grateful to them all.
It has been a pleasure to work with the editorial team at HarperCollins. I was first approached by Myles Archibald, the Series Editor, in the spring of 2014 and was delighted to be given the opportunity to write the book. Julia Koppitz has gently guided me through the production from first drafts through to the final publication, while the assiduous reading by Brian Short from the New Naturalist Editorial Board has provided many useful comments and improvements to the text. I thank them and also Tom Cabot for the great design and Robert Gillmor for the pleasing cover.
Finally I thank my family. My parents, Peter and Jean, have encouraged and supported me in my love of history from an early age. Discussions with them and my wider family have always been stimulating and broadened my perspective. My nephew, Jordan Mansfield, has a deep interest in the period and provided detailed and useful comments on all the chapters. My children Laura and Ben, now both zoologists, have given me many further insights into the natural world. Above all I thank Sue, to whom this volume is dedicated, for her continual enthusiasm for the subject, for putting up with many weeks away on site and for enduring long weekends over the last three years while I wrote this book.
Nick Ashton
5 December 2016