Scotland after the Ice Age : environmental, archaeology and history, 8000 BC - AD 1000

This book charts the environmental transformation of Scotland from the end of the ice age in an empty land 10,000 years ago to the Viking invasions of an established society 9,000 years later. When the icefields and glaciers disappeared forests covered the land and sea level rose to create the Hebridean islands. Elk, aurochs, bear, boar, red deer, beaver and horse crossed the land bridge from Europe to colonise the land, first followed by hunter gatherers and later by waves of Celts, Romans, Scots, and Normans, each marking the landscape in distinctive ways. This book brings together environmental, ecological, historical, geological, and archaeological approaches to show how changing climatic conditions and this sequence of cultural impacts shaped the succession of Scottish landscapes which have led to its present unique, beautiful, fleeting forms and variety.The seventeen authors are scholars from a range of fields, all writing for students and general readers. The first six chapters consider interactions of human ecology, climate, landscape, soils, vegetation and faunal change. The next seven are a chronological narrative history of Scotland’s environment over 9,000 years. The final chapter unites these systematic and historical approaches. The book is extensively illustrated with maps and photographs. The paperback edition includes a new and extensive guide to further reading. This Book Charts The Immense Environmental And Cultural Changes That Took Place In Scotland From The End Of The Last Ice Age To The Arrival Of The Vikings Over 9000 Years Later. After The Final Disappearance Of The Ice, Sea Levels Rose And Fell And Woodland Covered The Greater Part Of The Country. Elk, Wild Cattle, Brown Bear, Boar, Red Deer And Beaver Inhabited Woodlands And Upland Moors. Then Came Human Settlers: Hunter-gatherers Followed By Successive Communities Of Farmers And Metalworkers, And Latterly The Romans. The Scots, Picts And Other Peoples Of Early Historic Scotland Are Also Considered. This Book Unites Environmental And Archaeological Approaches To Show How Changing Natural Conditions And The Sequence Of Cultural Impacts Shaped Scotland's Distinctive Succession Of Landscapes. The Seventeen Authors Are Archaeologists, Geographers And Environmental Scientists, Writing For A Wide Readership, Including Students And General Readers. The Book Is Extensively Illustrated With Maps And Photographs And This Paperback Edition Includes A New Guide To Further Reading.--book Jacket. 1. Environment And People In Prehistoric And Early Historical Times: Preliminary Considerations / Kevin J. Edwards And Ian B. M. Ralston -- 2. Climate Change / Graeme Whittington And Kevin J. Edwards -- 3. Geomorphology And Landscape Change / Colin K. Ballantyne And Alastair G. Dawson -- 4. Soils And Their Evolution / Donald A. Davidson And Stephen P. Carter -- 5. Vegetation Change / Kevin J. Edwards And Graeme Whittington -- 6. Faunal Change: The Vertebrate Fauna / Finbar Mccormick And Paul C. Buckland -- Faunal Change: Land Snails / Stephen P. Carter -- Faunal Change: Insects / Paul C. Buckland And Jon P. Sadler -- 7. The Mesolithic / Bill Finlayson And Kevin J. Edwards -- 8. The Neolithic / Gordon J. Barclay -- 9. The Bronze Age / Trevor G. Cowie And Ian A. G. Shepherd -- 10. The Iron Age / Ian Armit And Ian B. M. Ralston -- 11. The Roman Presence: Brief Interludes / William S. Hanson -- 12. The Early Historic Period: An Archaeological Perspective / Ian B. M. Ralston And Ian Armit -- 13. The Early Norse Period / John R. Hunter -- 14. Environment And Archaeology In Scotland: Some Observations / Kevin J. Edwards And Ian B. M. Ralston -- A Guide To The Literature Since 1996. Edited By Kevin J. Edwards And Ian B.m. Ralston. Updated Ed. Of: Scotland : Environment And Archaeology, 8000 Bc-ad 1000. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [267]-320) And Index. This book charts the environmental transformation of Scotland from the end of the ice age in an empty land 10,000 years ago to the Viking invasions of an established society 9,000 years later. When the icefields and glaciers disappeared forests covered the land and sea level rose to create the Hebridean islands. Elk, aurochs, bear, boar, red deer, beaver and horse crossed the land bridge from Europe to colonise the land, first followed by hunter gatherers and later by waves of Celts, Romans, Scots, and Normans, each marking the landscape in distinctive ways. This book brings together environmental, ecological, historical, geological, and archaeological approaches to show how changing climatic conditions and this sequence of cultural impacts shaped the succession of Scottish landscapes which have led to its present unique, beautiful, fleeting forms and variety. The seventeen authors are scholars from a range of fields, all writing for students and general readers. Contents 6 List of Figures 8 List of Plates 10 List of Tables 12 List of Authors 14 Preface 18 1 Environment and People in Prehistoric and Early Historical Times: Preliminary Considerations 20 2 Climate Change 30 3 Geomorphology and Landscape Change 42 4 Soils and Their Evolution 64 5 Vegetation Change 82 6 Fanual Change 102 7 The Mesolithic 128 8 The Neolithic 146 9 The Bronze Age 170 10 The Iron Age 188 11 The Roman Presence: Brief Interludes 214 12 The Early Historic Period: An Archaelogical Perspective 236 13 The Early Norse Period 260 14 Environment and Archaeology in Scotland: Some Observations 274 References 286 A Guide to the Literature since 1996 330 Index 340